Although experts from the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) completed its audit of the Russian Anti-Doping Agency (RUSADA) last week, a critical denial of information is resulting in the RUSADA looking at potentially more sanctions less than 2 years out from Tokyo.
As a refresher, the scheduled audit was completed in accordance to prior conditions that were established so that RUSADA would restore its compliance status to the WADA code. The audit, which lasted two days, was required as stated in both RUSADA‘s Roadmap to Compliance and WADA‘s Executive Committee decision made back on September 20, 2018.
WADA had set a December 31st deadline to meet the condition or once again be found non-compliant. If non-compliant, RUSADA would face even tough sanctions.
Per The Telegraph, the WADA inspection team last week was denied access to raw data in the Laboratory Information Management System (LIMS). Access to this data was denied due to Russia’s saying the inspection team’s equipment to be used for data extraction ‘had not been certified under Russian law.’
Now, WADA‘s inspection team will form a report for the Independent Compliance Review Committee, who is scheduled to meet on January 14th with the purpose of reconsidering RUSADA‘s code compliance status.
WADA told Reuters that, “there were no more visits planned but that the team of experts would remain on standby ready to proceed with full data extraction should the matter be resolved.”
“Let’s hope WADA doesn’t get played again and immediately declares them non-compliant,” United States Anti-Doping Agency (USADA) chief executive Travis Tygart told Reuters upon the news of data denial.
How long has this been going on?? Years probably! since Borzov won the sprint double in Munich 1972??, although steroids were not banned till 1975!
Russia is a hangover of the USSR. All the other (subjugated) former USSR nations are stepping out into the world looking for a new path (apart from Belarus) while Russia longs for its past ‘glory’ – Very little has changed in the country in decades, so I imagine you’re right, the sportspeople are about as trustworthy as the Press sisters of the 60s.
That’s so Russia.
I believe there are few to no clean Russian athletes, including swimmers. Any one who WAS clean would refuse to compete for the nation as it stands, and would openly and loudly protest the current climate of state-run cheating. Instead, denials. Russia should be banned from international competition for a minimum of three years. WADA and Fed. Orgs need to implement LIFETIME bans on first offense, no appeals, plus jail time. If someone has been caught, they have already cheated numerous times.
I must say, jail time seems like an extreme penalty for doping in a sport. But when you think about it, a successful swimmer (that also dopes) is stealing prize money from clean athletes. They are NEARLY LITERALLY stealing money. Perhaps in this framing jail time seems reasonable.
I agree with the posters here in saying Russia should be banned from the Olympics. As for the clean Russian athletes, sorry but your country failed you.
Russia’s cheating is so “in you face”, and it has been so for decades. A non-compliant report is due immediately.
Ban them from competing. Sad but necessary
Sigh. Not surprised anymore.
I have to echo previous posters, the country displays no willingness to change and acts like a spoilt child on the international stage – Does what it wants, flaunts rules and then cries Russophobia.
My sympathy for clean Russian athletes has all but dried up; I never hear them taking a stand against the culture of cheating in their homeland so it’s time to put athletes from countries which abide by the rules first.
Time for a blanket ban across Olympic sports.
Just kick them out of the Olympics and be done with it. Ban them.
Ban them from all international competition for 5 years. Nothing is clean in Russia
No no they have to be allowed to compete because it’s so not fair.
WHY BOTHER HAVING RULES AT ALL AT THIS POINT.