(ATR) The veteran sports leader put in charge of reforming anti-doping in Russia denies state sponsored doping is behind the crisis the country faces.
Vitaly Smirnov, retired IOC member, was named by Vladimir Putin to lead a commission to restore the reputation of RUSADA, the Russian Anti Doping Agency. RUSADA was suspended in the wake of allegations of corrupt practices that kept hidden years of doping by Russian athletes in Olympic sports.
On Sunday Smirnov told the WADA Foundation Board that Russia had "never had a state-sponsored system of doping" despite listening to a report criticizing the country for its anti-drugs reform.
Rob Koehler, who is in charge of monitoring Russia for WADA after widespread doping allegations were made earlier this year in the Richard McLaren report, told the WADA leadership that Russia was making some progress.
But the WADA official highlighted major issues such as international testers still not getting access to some cities or previous doping samples. Koehler also said there were challenges gaining information about athletes’ whereabouts.
After listening to the criticism, veteran Olympic official Smirnov told WADA delegates: "Russia has never had a state-sponsored system of doping. Doping is not the problem of one specific country. We have to fight this evil together."
The comments were greeted with surprise by some members of WADA. The anti-doping agency had recommended that the entire Russian team be excluded from the Rio Games after the McLaren report alleged widespread problems in Russia. The IOC rejected the blanket ban and instead let international sports federations decide which Russian athletes should be eligible to compete.
Former WADA chairman Dick Pound, who was a key figure in the independent commission investigating Russia, told Around the Rings: "You can’t cure an alcoholic until the person admits to the problem. From the Russian side, it is important to stop denying and now get back on line."
Smirnov faced fierce questioning from the international media after his comments at the meeting of Olympic and Government delegates at the Scottish Exhibition and Conference Centre. TheRussian emphasized his knowledge of Russian sport as a member of the International Olympic Committee from 1971 to 2015.
"If one person is a criminal, it does not mean the whole country is a criminal," Smirnov told reporters. "We know this system did not exist."
McClaren Report Part Two
WADA Director General Olivier Niggli told the Glasgow meeting that a second McLaren report on Russian doping would be published on December 9. It is expected to give more details on the cheating, especially regarding winter sports.
McLaren’s original report, released last July, revealed allegations of widespread state-sponsored doping in Russian sport.
"We are waiting but expecting it to be made public on December 9," WADA Director General Olivier Niggli told delegates.
Earlier this week WADA came under fire from delegates at a meeting of the Association of National Olympic Committees (ANOC) for the timing of the first McLaren report, which was published just a few weeks before the Rio Olympics and generated huge media attention.
The new report will be published on the day after the IOC Executive Board meets in Lausanne.
Reedie Re-Elected to WADA Presidency
WADA President Craig Reedie, who faced criticism in the last week from national Olympic chiefs, was re-elected for a second three-year term on Sunday. It will be his last.
The WADA Foundation Board, comprising Olympic and government delegates, confirmed his position by acclamation. Norway Culture Minister Linda Hofstad Helleland was elected by a round of applause as WADA vice-president.
WADA was heavily criticised by delegates at the general assembly of the Association of National Olympic Committees (ANOC) in Doha last week, particularly over the agency’s handling of the allegations of state-sponsored Russian doping which dominated the build-up to the 2016 Rio Olympics. There were also calls for a "neutral" leader to take over the agency.
Reedie, an IOC member, will be succeeded as president in three years by a representative from government. The WADA constititution requires the presidency alternate between sport and government.
Written and reported in Glasgow by Adrian Warner.
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