(ATR) The IOC Executive Board expressed "unanimous condemnation" Tuesday after review of a summary of a report from the World Anti-Doping Agency documenting manipulation of Moscow lab data.
IOC spokesperson Mark Adams says the IOC EB still must wait for a decision from the WADA Executive Committee on Dec. 9 before taking further action. The WADA EC is due to review recommendations from its Compliance Review Commission which has been leading the inquiry into the Russian Anti-Doping Agency.
The WADA EC is scheduled to meet in Lausanne, a meeting initially scheduled for Paris.WADA decided to relocate it to the Olympic Capital due to likely disruptions and uncertainty caused by imminent general strike action in Paris.
"It was discussed - there was a reasonable long discussion," Adams said of the Russian doping report following day one of an IOC executive board meeting in Lausanne. "All I can confirm is that we re-confirm our (previously released) statement.
"We condemn the actions of those responsible for the manipulations in the strongest possible terms," he said. "We say that it is an attack on sport itself, the integrity of sport.
"We need to wait for the findings of the ExCo committee of WADA to meet before we make any further comments. Officially, the report hasn’t been made public. We have the summary from WADA."
Adams was asked if it will be up to the executive committee to take further action against Russia or whether the IOC Session would need to take action.
"Good question, I’m not totally clear on that. I think we have to wait and see what the findings of the ExCo are, but I’d imagine the executive board would be able make a decision," he said.
Adams then corrected himself.
"To be honest, we don’t have to make a decision, because WADA will make the decision.
"It’s a process that needs to go from WADA and then to CAS.
"I’m not quite sure what our decision-making would be in the process, but it is still far down the line."
Adams also noted that the findings of WADA related to transgressions and cover-ups of doping data at the Moscow lab will also be discussed at the upcoming Olympic Summit in Lausanne, Dec. 6-7.
Adams was asked isn’t it the IOC who extends invitations to NOC’s for participation in the Olympic Games.
"Based on the findings from ExCo when we get them, we would study that and then take the next step."
"Things are moving pretty quickly. We asked for the raw data to be given up by those responsible.
"There was unanimity that people are extremely upset and condemn it in the strongest terms and the strongest actions must be taken."
The IOC Executive Board meets through Dec. 5.
Written and reported by Brian Pinelli in Lausanne
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