Russia Olympic Committee tells rivals ‘offended by defeats’ after doping criticism: ‘We will not console you’

The Russian Olympic Committee has issued a remarkable statement in response to criticism from rivals over their presence at the Tokyo Games following years of doping revelations.

The runner-up to gold medalist Evgeny Rylov in the men’s 200 metres backstroke, Ryan Murphy, made cryptic remarks about the race not being clean after the event.

Murphy made no outright accusation about the ROC’s Rylov, who backed up his win in the men's 100m breaststroke earlier this week with an Olympic record time in this 200m final of one minute and 53.27 seconds.

He was 0.88secs clear of defending champion Murphy but the American told reporters afterwards it is a "huge drain" on him to swim "in a race that's probably not clean".

Rylov is among more than 300 athletes at these Games representing the ROC, following a Court of Arbitration for Sport ruling that partially upheld Russia's appeal against World Anti-Doping Agency sanctions after revelations of a state-sponsored doping programme in the country.

ROC responded on Twitter: “How unnerving our victories are of individual colleagues in the shop. Yes, we are here at the Olympic Games. Absolutely by right. Whether someone likes it or not.

“But you have to be able to lose. Not everyone is given this. The old hurdy-gurdy again started the song about Russian doping. Someone spinning a knob.

"English-language propaganda, oozing verbal sweat in the Tokyo heat, through the mouths of athletes offended by defeats.

“We will not console you. Forgive those who are weaker. God is their judge and, for us, an assistant.”

Russia was rebranded as ROC for the Tokyo Olympics and next year's Winter Olympics in Beijing as part of sanctions for failing to turn over accurate data from the Moscow anti-doping laboratory.

Additional reporting by Press Association and Associated Press.

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