The World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) fully reiterates its support for the International Association of Athletics Federation (IAAF) Council decision taken on 17 June to maintain the suspension of the All-Russian Athletics Federation (ARAF).
"Further to yesterday’s Olympic Summit and the Declaration that resulted, WADA strongly believes that the IAAF decision must be upheld as it was articulated on 17 June by the IAAF Task Force," said Craig Reedie, WADA President. "The IAAF Task Force report was clear -- a significant culture change is required among Russian athletes, athlete support personnel, government and sport leaders," Reedie continued. "It is essential that tough measures be enforced to ensure that those involved understand the gravity of not embracing clean sport," said Reedie. "Until the required cultural changes in Russia is well advanced through strong education and prevention programs; supported by independent doping control and robust compliance programs; WADA cannot assure clean athletes of the world that it is reforming."
"WADA also reiterates its support for the IAAF’s proposed rule amendment enabling Russian athletes to apply for eligibility, on an exceptional basis and subject to meeting strict criteria -- in particular having been subjected to credible doping programs outside Russia -- to compete in international competitions, including the Olympic Games, in an individual capacity as neutral athletes," Reedie continued. "WADA also restates its support for the IAAF Task Force’s recommendation to favourably consider the request of whistleblower, Yulia Stepanova, to compete as an independent athlete."
"WADA awaits the results of its independent McLaren Investigation, which was formed on 18 May and is examining further allegations of doping in Russia," said Reedie. "As captured within the IAAF Task Force report, Professor McLaren advised the Task Force of his ‘preliminary findings that there is sufficient corroborated evidence to confirm…a mandatory state-directed manipulation of laboratory analytical results operating within the Moscow-accredited laboratory from at least 2011 forward including the period of the IAAF World Championships in 2013’", Reedie continued. "We will see what evidence is exposed via the Investigation in terms of the scale of a state-directed doping program and the sports involved. If involvement of the state is clearly established, then sports authorities must collectively respond, in an uncompromised fashion; and, ensure that the necessary consequences are put in place to protect clean sport."
The full McLaren Investigation Report is to be delivered to the WADA President by 15 July and published in full within five days of receipt. The President can extend the mandate if he deems it necessary or appropriate.
The ARAF suspension was first imposed by the IAAF on 13 November 2015 further to the findings of WADA’s Independent Commission into widespread doping in Russian Athletics.
20 Years at #1: Your best source of news about the Olympics is www.aroundtherings.com, for subscribers only
Recent Articles
Sinner-Alcaraz, the duel that came to succeed the three phenomenons
Beyond the final result, Roland Garros left the feeling that the Italian and the Spaniard will shape the great duel that came to help us through the duel for the end of the Federer-Nadal-Djokovic era.
Table tennis: Brazil’s Bruna Costa Alexandre will be Olympic and Paralympic in Paris 2024
She is the third in her sport and the seventh athlete to achieve it in the same edition; in Santiago 2023 she was the first athlete with disabilities to compete at the Pan American level and won a medal.
Rugby 7s: the best player of 2023 would only play the medal match in Paris
Argentinian Rodrigo Isgró received a five-game suspension for an indiscipline in the circuit’s decisive clash that would exclude him until the final or the bronze match; the Federation will seek to make the appeal successful.
Rhonex Kipruto, owner of the world record for the 10000 meters on the road, was suspended for six years
The Kenyan received the maximum sanction for irregularities in his biological passport and the Court considered that he was part of a system of “deliberate and sophisticated doping” to improve his performance. He will lose his record and the bronze medal at the Doha World Cup.
Katie Ledecky spoke about doping Chinese swimmers: “It’s difficult to go to Paris knowing that we’re going to compete with some of these athletes”
The American, a seven-time Olympic champion, referred to the case of the 23 positive controls before the Tokyo Games that were announced a few weeks ago and shook the swimming world. “I think our faith in some of the systems is at an all-time low,” he said.
