Russia Facing Olympics Athletics Ban
• London Olympics were ‘sabotaged’ by ‘widespread inaction’
• Interpol to investigate ‘alleged global doping corruption scam’Russia has been accused of having a huge “state-sponsored doping programme” by an independent commission that could see the country kicked out of athletics and potentially the Rio 2016 Olympics.
The former president of the World Anti-Doping Agency, Dick Pound, who chaired an independent commission convened to look into allegations of systemic doping made by German media 11 months ago, said the “very damaging” findings were probably the tip of the iceberg. The widespread rule-breaking, he said, was “worse than we thought”.
The Wada commission said there was evidence of “interference with doping controls up to the middle of this year” including more than 1,400 samples destroyed in December last year, as well as “cover-ups, destruction of samples, payment of money to conceal doping tests”. It found that the head of its Moscow anti-doping lab Grigory Rodchenko admitted to intentionally destroying 1,417 samples. The report says that the lab, the only Wada accredited one in Russia, should lose its accreditation.
The 323-page report found the London 2012 Olympics were “sabotaged” by the “widespread inaction” against Russian athletes with suspicious doping profiles, by the world athletics governing body the IAAF and the Russian federation.
It outlines a culture of cheating in which Pound said Russian coaches were “out of control” and expected the Russian anti-doping agency to protect their athletes rather than catch them.
More: Wada calls for Russia to be banned from athletics in doping report
See @XSovietNews TL for more choice selections. https://t.co/TNIxNsLPpX
— Paul Canning (@pauloCanning) November 9, 2015
#FSB hand in the doping scandal as documented by @wada_ama pic.twitter.com/KuK6YfSVu5
— Olexiy Solohubenko (@OS1954) November 9, 2015
#WADA reax: Vladimir Uiba of Russia’s med agency says it’s a “politically motivated” report, linked to sanctions over Crimea and Ukraine.
— Paul Brennan (@paulrbrennan) November 9, 2015
Tone of comment on #Russian TV so far re #doping scandal:it’s all political,we need transparent, independent investigation. Sound familiar?
— Sarah Rainsford (@sarahrainsford) November 9, 2015
15-year-old pole vaulter Alina says she’s OK being banned, happy to have some time off #WADA #Russia #Doping #Mutko pic.twitter.com/FZ7tPqgh47
— Sputnik (@Sputnik_Intl) November 9, 2015
I am outraged that #WADA says steroid use is widespread in Russia. pic.twitter.com/WceQbmK2SK
— Vladimir Putin (@DarthPutinKGB) November 9, 2015