In a statement released today, the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) expressed its disappointment that the International Olympic Committee (IOC) did not issue a blanket ban on Russian athletes in the 2016 Rio Olympic Games.
Just last week, the WADA issued a report confirming state-sponsored and systematic doping in Russia, a study led by Canadian law professor Richard McLaren.
WADA president Sir Craig Reedie feels that the McLaren Report should have put forth proof enough to merit a ban on Russian athletes in the 2016 Olympics.
“WADA is disappointed that the IOC did not heed WADA’s Executive Committee recommendations that were based on the outcomes of the McLaren Investigation and would have ensured a straight-forward, strong and harmonized approach,” he said. “The McLaren Report exposed, beyond a reasonable doubt, a state-run doping program in Russia that seriously undermines the principles of clean sport embodied within the World Anti-Doping Code.”
The McLaren report issued last week, according to the WADA, was ‘partial,’ and research into the Russian doping system is far from complete. The WADA has extended Professor McLaren’s mandate so that he can continue to investigate the situation.
The WADA is also concerned that the IOC‘s decision not to allow Russian track star Yulia Stepanova, a whistleblower who helped to unmask the Russian doping rig, to compete in the Games will discourage future athletes in Russia and abroad from speaking out about systematic doping.
“WADA has been very vocal in supporting Yulia’s desire to compete as an independent athlete,” said WADA General Director Olivier Niggli. “Ms. Stepanova was instrumental in courageously exposing the single biggest doping scandal of all time. WADA is very concerned by the message that this sends whistleblowers for the future.”
Read the full statement below:
WADA will support International Federations to ensure the best possible outcome for clean athletes
The World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) acknowledges today’s decision by the International Olympic Committee’s (IOC) Executive Board asking International Federations to deal with the selection of Russian athletes for Rio 2016; and, stands by its Executive Committee’s recommendations of 18 July. WADA’s Executive Committee recommended that the IOC consider, under its Charter, declining entries for Rio 2016 of all athletes submitted by the Russian Olympic Committee.
On 18 July, WADA’s Independent McLaren Investigation exposed Russian State manipulation of the doping control process. The Investigation’s Report corroborates allegations made by Dr. Grigory Rodchenkov, the former director of the WADA-accredited laboratory in Moscow, which were released by CBS 60 Minutes and The New York Times on 8 and 12 May respectively.
“WADA is disappointed that the IOC did not heed WADA’s Executive Committee recommendations that were based on the outcomes of the McLaren Investigation and would have ensured a straight-forward, strong and harmonized approach,” said Sir Craig Reedie, President, WADA. “The McLaren Report exposed, beyond a reasonable doubt, a state-run doping program in Russia that seriously undermines the principles of clean sport embodied within the World Anti-Doping Code,” Reedie continued.
“While WADA fully respects the IOC’s autonomy to make decisions under the Olympic Charter, the approach taken and the criteria set forward will inevitably lead to a lack of harmonization, potential challenges and lesser protection for clean athletes,” said Olivier Niggli, Director General, WADA.
As it relates to Yulia Stepanova, “WADA has been very vocal in supporting Yulia’s desire to compete as an independent athlete,” said Niggli. “Ms. Stepanova was instrumental in courageously exposing the single biggest doping scandal of all time,” Niggli continued. “WADA is very concerned by the message that this sends whistleblowers for the future,” he said.
As it relates to the IOC’s repeated call to WADA that the Agency review the anti-doping system, WADA is fully committed to further strengthening the system that belongs to stakeholders worldwide. As a first measure, WADA has already announced that it will be holding the first in a series of multi-stakeholder Think Tanks in September focused, in particular, on: minimising corruption and bribery practices in the anti-doping process; implementing consequences of non-compliance; and, reviewing WADA’s governance structure. This process will concentrate on discussing responsibilities, transparency and the independence of WADA, which is a key matter that must be discussed by Government and Sport. WADA remains committed to protecting the clean athlete, with integrity and within the limits of its investigation powers and financial resources.
WADA can also confirm that, since Professor McLaren published his Report on 18 July, the Agency has facilitated the transfer of evidence from the McLaren Investigation team to the International Paralympic Committee – which acts as an International Federation for several Paralympic sports and has authority over the Paralympic Games – and the International Federations of Olympic sports that are implicated in the Report. Specifically, for follow up as a matter of urgency, the Agency transferred names and relevant details related to athletes under their authority, which escaped sanctions due to the ‘Disappearing Positive’ methodology described in the Report; and, that may be entered to compete at Rio 2016.
On 18 July, Professor McLaren confirmed that:
- he had gathered and reviewed as much evidence as was possible within the limited 57-day time frame that he had to deliver his Report;
- his Report was ‘partial’;
- per his Terms of Reference, there was more evidence to be reviewed ‘to identify athletes that might have benefited from manipulation of the doping control process to conceal positive doping tests; and
- that he would be pleased to complete his mandate.
WADA is pleased to confirm that the Agency has extended Professor McLaren’s mandate so that he can finish the work he has started. WADA will ensure to act upon, and provide anti-doping organizations with any further information that may become available as part of the McLaren Investigation’s work.
WADA notes the IOC’s specific reference to an International Shooting Sport Federation (ISSF) letter of 23 July. The Agency can confirm that the issue has been addressed directly with the ISSF and that there was no mistake or discrepancy in the McLaren Report in relation to the samples referenced. The inclusion of shooting samples in the Report reflects the fact that three samples were in the McLaren database, showing that they were part of the state-run mechanism but were not provided with cover up protection.
Rowdy was walking out of the Delta Sky Club in Orlando as I was walking in last night. Only afterwards did I think that I should have asked him about this mess. That being said, given the connections of NBC and the IOC certainly he couldn’t have said anything too negative.
After several hours of reflection, I think the IOC decision is absolutely ridiculous.
We talked about a state-sponsored doping. Not 2 or 3 individual cases.
That half-decision which is in fact a non-decision to not fall out with Russia is a very bad message for the war against doping. The Russian government can now have a big smile. They cheat, they corrupt and at the end they are not sanctioned. So much bad politics at IOC. So much money at stake at IOC. A big lack of courage at IOC. Shame on you IOC!
If FINA lets Efimova swim in Rio then it will take the cake!
Honestly I think it will be CAS that puts Efimova in the competition but think it will happen nonetheless. I would look for a movement to replace FINA at this point given how cozy they have become with Russia. See the Volkov comment in another article.
I hope you understand why IOC will not choose LA for 2024 olympic games.
They don’t like USA a lot at IOC.
And it looks very stupid but many people see that story about Russia as a thing coming from USA, North America and the Western world overall against Russia because it’s Russia. They have much imagination. The plot theories are everywhere. IOC didn’t want to offer a win (according to them) to USA. It’s ridiculous but I see the thing as simple as that. So much politics behind that. So much money at stake.
USA will pay its efforts to clean FIFA and that movie about Russia when IOC will choose the 2024 olympic city.
BG its a strange thing that I never can understand. The USA is not perfect, sometimes arrogant in the role of the world policeman and they have made some poor judgments but they are an inherently a moral, open, transparent society and support values of free and fair play. I sleep much better at night knowing they are there. I think large sectors of the world are anti US due to a collective tall poppy syndrome and jealously of the overall success of the USA. PS, I have no connection to the USA and live exactly on the other side of the world.
I’m indeed very jealous of the success of the USA in its last war operations in middle-eastern, we can say now that Aghanistan 2001 and Iraq 2003 produced great effects 🙂
Bobo : the cleaning of FIFA is still in process, we will see at the end who takes benefits from it, I highly doubt it will be football itself (more likely: mcdonald, coca-cola, etc.)
It sounds like a cheap cold war novel plot line.
So are all of the fans of clean sport WADA
The World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) is a corrupt as the International Olympic Committee or any other International Sport Federation.
Everyone should be disappointed in this decision.
What is the point of having rules if we don’t enforce them.
Well I am sure the Russians will win, fairly and squarely the post Rio medal reallocation tally. Russia have already had 11 London Olympic medals withdrawn and reallocated (and counting) and won that “honour” for the London games.
http://www.wired.com/2016/07/happen-olympics-banned-russia/
I wonder what their reallocation medal tally will be for Rio 2016 if all Russian sporting federations (based on a OK from each International Federation) are allowed to compete. I would hope that the WADA investigation would continue and that doped Russian Rio participants would have the have Rio medals stripped based on the final report.