Piano Concert No. 1 Pyotr Tchaikovsky just finished in Zhangjiakou. Mostly in honor of Alexander Bolshunov who beat everyone in the men’s three-mile event. But also a little bit for Denis Spitsov who got a magnificent silver. On Monday, they were awarded a medal.

Russians are still not allowed to listen to their own national anthem after the doping scandal in Sochi in 2014, nor are they allowed to call themselves Russian or use their own flag in the context of the Olympics.

“Propaganda Tricks”

NRK commentator Jan Petter Saltvedt wrote on Sunday that the gold was about as worthy as it could be. But the Russian Olympic Committee – which is Russia’s name at the Olympics – should have been punished more severely and not be allowed to participate.

The comments have been picked up in the Russian media Sport.ru and Sport-Ekspress. The latter commentator, Vladimir Ivanov, called it a classic “propaganda trick” after the decline of Norway.

NRK asks Denis Spitsov what he thinks.

– I consider this a provocative question. It’s hard for me to say anything about this, said the resigned Denis Spitsov when asked by NRK – and confirmed it:

– The Norwegian team also had certain problems with doping.

Spitsov was clearly disappointed and frustrated by the question.

– It’s stupid to suspect us

The surprising person is – like Bolshunov – was only 17 years old when the Sochi scandal came to light.

Neither of them came close to discussing the Olympics at the time. Bolshunov had previously stated that someone else should be held accountable for what happened at that time. It was a completely different team.

While Sergei Ustyugov was not allowed to participate in the 2018 Olympics, Sunday’s medal winners were allowed to participate under a neutral flag four years ago in Pyeongchang. The gold winner replied that he “spewed out” a question about doping from an American journalist on Sunday.

– It’s ridiculous to talk about athletes currently competing in the Olympics. They are really clean. We tested ourselves more than any other athlete in the country. In the world, says Spitsov.

– It is foolish to suspect us of anything.

– I understand perfectly well that Spitsov reacted, and he is doing well. This is in no way about his credibility or with Bolshunov or any other Russian athlete currently at the Olympics. Though it may feel that way, says NRK commentator Jan Petter Saltvedt.

– Should be tighter

The NRK commentator stressed that this was about the sport’s legal entities and their inability to take action.

– They dare not and do not dare to sanction a system that has been operating with systematic fraud for several years in an adequate manner.

For the Norwegian doping case, Saltvedt replied:

– We must be careful not to be too judgmental. And Norwegian ski leaders have long expressed a well-developed tactile anxiety about the realities within. But either way, they won’t come close to the dimensions of the Russian scandal surrounding Sochi. It has been revealed as systematic, highly comprehensive and administered by the state. And Russia should notice it right away and move on, especially for its own part.

Saltvedt believes Bolshunov’s victory and Spitsov’s silver medal are positive for cross-country skiing interest.

However, he believes the punishment Russia received when systematic doping was exposed was too light.

– Once someone was exposed to systematic doping around the 2014 Olympics and still continues to manipulate test results years later, that’s a signal that too little has changed. And then I still think the consequences should have been stricter.

• You can hear all the cross-country skiing at the Olympics NRK Sports. Tuesday is a sprint for both men and women. The prologue starts at 09.00. The knockout round starts at 11.30.