November 23, 2024
WADA

Dismay and condemnations greeted the lifting of the ban on Russia’s anti-doping agency RUSADA by the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA).

Although the change will have no immediate effect on current bans on the Russian federations for athletics, weightlifting and paralympics, the conditional lifting of the ban opens the door for their return, following the reinstatement of the Russian Olympic Committee after the country was banned from this year’s Winter Games in South Korea.

RUSADA was suspended in November, 2015 after an independent WADA report carried out by Canadian lawyer Richard McLaren outlined evidence of massive state-backed, systematic doping and cover-ups in Russian sport.

WADA has repeatedly said since that RUSADA would not be reinstated until it satisfied key criteria on a “roadmap for return”, including recognising the findings of the McLaren Report and allowing access to stored urine samples at RUSADA’s Moscow laboratory.

At Thursday’s WADA executive committee meeting in the Seychelles, members approved a lesser version of the first point – an acceptance of the IOC’s Schmid Report, which endorsed the core findings of the McLaren Report – and set another “clear timeline” for the implementation of the second.

That means, after remaining banned for refusing access to the Moscow lab, RUSADA is now approved, but could be banned again if access continues to be denied.

“Today, the great majority of the (12-person) WADA Executive Committee (EXCO) decided to reinstate RUSADA as compliant with the World Anti-Doping Code, subject to strict conditions,” WADA President Craig Reedie said in a statement here

According to WADA, the chair of its compliance review committee said a letter received from the Russian Ministry of Sport last week amounted to an acceptance of all the findings of the Schmid Report.

RUSADA director general Yuri Ganus told Reuters that more work needed to be done to secure the reinstatement but said Thursday’s decision was a positive sign for Russia’s suspended track and field athletes, weightlifters and paralympians.

WADA Vice-President Linda Helleland, the most senior member of the agency’s leadership to express opposition to reinstatement, said the decision cast a dark shadow over the credibility of the anti-doping movement.

“As an organisation, WADA’s number one job is to be true to our values of fair sport,” Helleland said in a statement. “And today we made the wrong decision in protecting the integrity of sport and to maintain public trust in the anti-doping work.

“Today we failed the clean athletes of the world.” Although the International Olympic Committee (IOC) reinstated Russia in February, the International Association of Athletics Federations’ (IAAF) suspension remains in place.

Some Russian athletes have competed as neutrals in international competition after proving their anti-doping credentials.

The IAAF set out its own criteria for the reinstatement of the Russian Athletics Federation (RusAF) and said the latest move by WADA fulfilled one of three pre-conditions.

According to the IAAF, Russian authorities must still acknowledge that Ministry of Sport officials were implicated in the scheme to cover up the doping of Russian athletes, as described in the McLaren and Schmid reports. They must also provide access to data from testing samples at the Moscow lab.

“The setting of our own criteria and the process of evaluating progress against these criteria has served the sport of athletics well over the last three years,” IAAF President Sebastian Coe said in a statement.

“So we will continue to rely on the task-force and our clear roadmap for RusAF reinstatement until we are satisfied that the conditions have been met.”

WADA’s decision came despite fierce opposition from athletes and other anti-doping bodies after WADA’s review committee last week recommended that the Russian agency be reinstated.

“Today marked the biggest decision in WADA’s history, and it delivered a devastating blow to the world’s clean athletes,” Travis Tygart, head of the U.S. Anti-Doping agency, said in a statement.

“By ripping up the very ‘Roadmap’ it created, WADA’s decision to reinstate Russia despite the nation not having met the two remaining Roadmap conditions is bewildering and inexplicable.”

Grigory Rodchenkov, the former RUSADA official whose evidence did much to expose the extent of the problem, said reinstatement under the current conditions would be “a catastrophe for Olympic sport ideals, the fight against doping and the protection of clean athletes”.

Reedie acknowledged that WADA’s decision would be criticised.

“When cheating is as rampant and as organised as it was in Russia … it undermines so much of what sport stands for,” he said.

“The pressure on WADA to ensure that Russian sport is genuinely clean now and in the future is one that we feel very keenly and we will maintain the highest levels of scrutiny on RUSADA’s operations and independence.”

46 thoughts on “Criticism Trails WADA over Lifting of the Ban on RUSADA.

  1. I just want to tell you that I am newbie to weblog and certainly liked your web blog. Very likely I’m planning to bookmark your blog . You really have very good article content. Cheers for sharing with us your website.

  2. I don’t know if it’s jսst me or if peгhapѕ everyboԀy eⅼⅼse eⲭperiencing
    isѕues wiyh your site. It appears as though some
    of the written text in your posts arre гunning
    off tһe screen. Cаn someone else pleaѕe comment
    and leet me know if this is happening to them as well? Τhis may be need a payday loan now issue with my browser because І’ve
    had thіs happen before. Kudos

  3. 481673 562515Hi, you used to write outstanding articles, but the last several posts have been kinda boring I miss your tremendous posts. Past few posts are just a little out of track! 365964

  4. 956487 500006There couple of fascinating points at some point in this posting but I dont determine if these folks center to heart. There is some validity but Let me take hold opinion until I check into it further. Fantastic write-up , thanks and then we want a lot more! Combined with FeedBurner in addition 885822

  5. 408712 993670Id should verify with you here. Which isnt one thing I often do! I get pleasure from reading a put up that will make individuals think. Additionally, thanks for allowing me to comment! 392346

  6. 457733 609353Thank you a lot for sharing this with all individuals you actually recognize what youre speaking about! Bookmarked. Please furthermore talk over with my internet website =). We could have a hyperlink alternate arrangement among us! 148964

  7. Thank you a bunch for sharing this with all people you actually know what you’re speaking
    approximately! Bookmarked. Kindly also talk over with my web site =).
    We can have a hyperlink exchange agreement between us

  8. It’s the best time to make some plans for the future and it is time to be happy.
    I have read this post and if I could I desire to suggest
    you few interesting things or suggestions. Maybe you could write next articles referring to this article.
    I desire to read more things about it!

  9. First of all I want to say fantastic blog! I had a quick question in which I’d
    like to ask if you don’t mind. I was interested to
    find out how you center yourself and clear your mind prior to writing.

    I have had a tough time clearing my mind in getting my thoughts out.
    I truly do enjoy writing but it just seems like
    the first 10 to 15 minutes are wasted just trying to
    figure out how to begin. Any recommendations or hints?
    Thank you!

  10. Hello! I’ve been following your blog for a long
    time now and finally got the courage to go ahead and give you a shout out from Lubbock Texas!
    Just wanted to mention keep up the good job!

  11. Excellent post. I used to be checking continuously this weblog and
    I am impressed! Extremely useful info specially the final section :
    ) I care for such info a lot. I used to be looking for this
    certain info for a very long time. Thank you and best of luck.

  12. Excellent blog! Do you have any tips for aspiring writers?
    I’m hoping to start my own blog soon but I’m
    a little lost on everything. Would you suggest starting with a free
    platform like WordPress or go for a paid option? There are so many choices out there
    that I’m completely confused .. Any suggestions?
    Thank you!

  13. 399970 625550I really like your write-up. Its evident that you have a lot expertise on this topic. Your points are effectively produced and relatable. Thanks for writing engaging and intriguing material. 444765

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *