The 4x400m relay coach Yuri Ogorodnik continues to remain elusive. Even though the Sports Authority of India (SAI) and the Union Sports Ministry have cleared his name, the 77-year-old Ukrainian’s appointment is not yet complete.
“As of yesterday (Wednesday), Ogorodnik has been cleared by the government. There were several undertakings demanded by the ministry, vis-a-vis his appointment, and we have complied with all of it.
“We are only waiting for his tickets and visa at the moment,” Athletics Federation of India (AFI) president Adille Sumariwalla said here on Thursday.
The undertakings include Ogorodnik’s health and fitness certificate and that he has never been charged by WADA for a dope-related offence. Sumariwalla claimed this information was easily available on the WADA website. Even though he was held responsible for providing illegal supplements to India’s quarter-milers in 2011, AFI insists nothing implicating had been found against Ogorodnik by any enquiry committee on the case, and that the athletes had given statements absolving Ogorodnik of any fault.
