Another chapter opened in the state-sponsored doping saga
NADO Leaders acknowledge the January 22, 2019 release from WADA outlining an ongoing acceptance of RUSADA compliance.
It is agreed that the acquisition of the LIMS data from the Moscow Laboratory has been a critical step. The requirement to provide access to data and samples are obligations which arose eighteen months ago. While WADA is to be commended for obtaining the data, and RUSADA congratulated for its willing cooperation, it is not cause for celebration. It is not yet appropriate to turn the page on the issues, nor should the principals at WADA be doing a ‘victory lap’, rather it is the opening of another chapter in the tragic saga of a state-sponsored doping scheme.
Months of detailed examination is now required before even verifying the integrity of the data. Thereafter, additional sample analysis may be required before any individual doping cases could be considered – all of which to occur by a declared deadline of June 30, 2019. Meanwhile, Russia continues to bid to host international events such as the 2024 Youth Olympic Games, which would not be possible should they have been deemed to be non-compliant.
We owe it to clean athletes, including those within Russia, to identify and establish any current or former athletes who should be subject to potential Anti-Doping Rule Violation proceedings. Moreover, rather than merely seeking to prosecute the athletes who may be implicated, NADO Leaders believe all avenues must be pursued to also hold the conspirators accountable.
Vigilance Required
WADA elected to discard the Roadmap for RUSADA Compliance, which allowed attention to be drawn away from the real culprit (extensive Russian State-sponsored doping) and the real victim (clean sport and the athletes harmed by Russian malfeasance), but it is essential that we not to lose sight of the truth behind this conspiracy. Although WADA and the IOC would have us believe this is now all behind us, diligence requires otherwise:
- This scenario must NOT be characterized merely as a ‘non-conformity’ and should be the subject of censure
- An exhaustive expert review of the authenticity and integrity of all the data retrieved from the Russian laboratory must be undertaken independently. Any evident tampering should be documented, reported and appropriately prosecuted.
- When verified, the data must be thoroughly analyzed to determine any suspicious indicators or potential Anti-Doping Rule Violations (ADRV).
- The appropriate Result Management Authority (RMA) must be engaged to prosecute every potential ADRV.
- WADA must monitor results management closely to ensure all potential ADRVs are prosecuted by the applicable RMA and directly pursue any failure to prosecute. All Code signatories must fulfil their obligations or face the applicable repercussions.
- WADA should recover from Russia, by 30 June 2019, all costs incurred related to the Russian doping crisis since the first undertaking in the Richard Pound investigation.
- Any effort to interfere with or confound the investigation should be immediately addressed in the context of the CRC.
- An independent review of the crisis should identify any lessons to prevent recurrence.
Throughout the entire ordeal, NADO Leaders have signaled our steadfast commitment to the global athlete community in support of clean sport. That commitment remains steadfast. Much painstaking work remains before any page can be turned on the greatest doping scandal of all time.
This Statement is supported by the National Anti-Doping Organizations of: Canada, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, Germany, Ireland, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Singapore, Sweden, Switzerland and USA
For more information or media inquiries, click here.