23.06.09

Albina Ahatova: In Novosibirsk I have already begun the preparations for the World Championship-2011 which will be in Khanty-Mansiysk

Olympic Champion 2006, the winner of Games 1998 and 2002 Biathlon Albina Ahatova, who together with Catherine Yurieva and Dmitry Yaroshenko is currently waiting for the verdict of the International Biathlon Union in the case of the use of prohibited substances, has already begun the preparation training in Novosibirsk. Albina Ahatova herself told the Agency of sport information “The whole sport” about the reasons of such a choice.

“Today Novosibirsk is the only place where I can safely and effectively train”, Albina Ahatova said. “After winning the world championship and Olympic Games, I still have one more dream that is to win the World Cup overall. I am sure that I will have a chance to make it real. Now I am preparing for the season of 2011 that time the World Championship will be held in Khanty-Mansiysk. I am glad to be here, I am totally satisfied with the conditions. There are high-quality fitness facilities and excellent shooting range. By the way, Anya Bogaly-Titovets is also preparing for a new season here, and Katia Yurieva has joined us recently. We managed to organize full cultural program not at the expense of training. We went to Pelageia concert, born in Novosibirsk, visited the local zoo. I am more than satisfied».

Albina Ahatova also commented on the charges of Russian Biathlon in the use of illicit drugs: “Before, I thought that the International Brotherhood Biathlon is all over the world. But now, because of the circumstances which are known to you, I think differently. Sport is cruel and it's true. Ways to achieve goals may be different. I say so, and my conscience is clear. Where else in the youth competition for the prizes of Olympic champion for Raisa Smetanina I ranked third, received the letter, but as an advice from a great skier there were written the following words in it: «Only through work and perseverance you can succeed! And since then this is my motto.”