MOSCOW, 19 January 2005 — Russian Tennis Federation president Shamil Tarpishchev accused Belgian regional Sports Minister Claude Eerdekens yesterday of bias in the doping controversy involving Russia’s U.S. Open champion Svetlana Kuznetsova.
“What he has done is beyond any ethical norms accepted in the civilised sporting community,” Tarpishchev told Reuters. “He not only wrongly accused one of our top tennis players. By doing it he also slandered the whole of Russia.”
Eerdekens issued a statement on Monday saying the world number five had tested postive for the stimulant ephedrine in a doping test taken at a exhibition tournament in the city of Charleroi in December.
Kuznetsova has been cleared of any doping violations by the Women’s Tennis Association (WTA) and will remain in the Australian Open in Melbourne after winning her first round match on Monday.
Tarpischev’s anger echoed earlier comments by WTA chief executive Larry Scott.
“In all my years in sports, I have never seen a more disgraceful and irresponsible act by a sports official,” Scott said from Melbourne yesterday.
The WTA said ephedrine was not on the list of prohibited drugs if taken in out-of-competition events such as last month’s charity event in Charleroi. Tarpishchev dismissed the notion that Eerdekens’ remarks were simply inadvertent and ill-advised.
“No, this is not a simple mistake or feckless chatter. He is liable for moral damages and defamation,” he said, adding that the RTF was considering filing a legal suit against Eerdekens.
“We’ll wait for a written response from the WTA and the (International Tennis Federation) ITF before deciding what action to take. We certainly retain the right to go to court.”
Tarpishchev said Eerdekens’ words were clearly biased, aimed at diminishing Russia’s leading role in the sport.
“Just look at the Melbourne scoreboard. It’s Russia 18 Belgium 0,” he said, referring to 18 Russian players, 14 women and four men, reaching the second round at the Australian Open.
Only two Belgians, brothers Oliver and Christophe Rochus, won their opening matches at the first grand slam of the year.
“I think it’s a Russia allergy, he (Eerdekens) is simply allergic to our success in tennis,” Tarpishchev said.
Russian women had a phenomenal year in 2004, sweeping the last three grand slam singles titles and taking over the game from Belgians Justine Henin-Hardenne and Kim Clijsters. The two Belgians had been ranked number one and two in the world just 12 months ago but have since struggled with injuries and illnesses.
Tarpishchev, who is also a member of the International Olympic Committee, said he would discuss Eerdekens’ position with IOC president and fellow Belgian Jacques Rogge.
“I’ll certainly mention it to the President at the next IOC session,” said Tarpishchev.
“I want to get to the bottom of it, to know his (Eerdekens) role in this whole affair. How he knew about test results even before the international and national federations had been notified and why this information was leaked to the media.”
