MOSCOW, August 31, Andrey Simonenko. Russian athletics are going through hard times, but this is part of a global trend towards the withering of this sport, says Sergey Shubenkov, winner and medalist of the world championships in the 110-meter hurdles. Russian athletes are currently suspended from competing in major international tournaments. Since 2015, the All-Russian Athletics Federation has been deprived of full membership in the World Athletics Association due to systematic cases of anti-doping rule violations. «I have repeatedly said that the patient is more dead than alive,» Shubenkov said, answering a question about the state of athletics — But when I say this, I emphasize that this is happening not only in Russia. World athletics, rather, has a fading trend. Yes, the world championships in Oregon, London had excellent ratings — well, so these places were well chosen. And in the same Doha, the same empty stands that are filled with citizens in white clothes when their compatriot Mutaz Barshim jumps. And that's all. The stands are empty not only in Russia. «Read the full interview with Sergey Shubenkov on the site rsport.ria.ru.
