A reader submitted this article where Sergey Syrtsov, president of the Russian Weightlifting Federation, discusses Slivenko, Klokov and Akkaev. Syrtsov’s finds some pretty harsh words:
“Даже не так обидно с Аккаевым, потому что ему действительно была проведена операция уже в Лондоне, а Клоков и Сливенко очень сильно подвели команду.”
Translation:
The situation is not as sorry with Akkaev because it is true that he was operated on in London, but Klokov and Slivenko very seriously let the team down.
This reads as if he is suggesting that neither Silvenko nor Klokov was really injured…
Update: You guys are probably right. Syrtsov was probably upset that they hid their injuries.
He also praises Apti, but does not mention the coaching error that cost him the gold. No surprise there.
Update: In another interview Syrtsov explicitly said that it was not because of doping and that we shouldn’t expect to see Klokov before the next Russian cup.
Update: In another interview Rigert partly blames the issue on the uneducated doctors who were not skilled enough to diagnose Dmitry’s knee injury.
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