Doping is without borders: what the Russians removed from the Olympics – RBC

Remove from the Olympic Games

Independent Commission World Anti Doping Agency (WADA) on Monday urged disqualify the Russian Athletics Federation (ARAF) and ban all Russian athletes to participate in international competitions to until it is proved that the Russian athletes do not use doping. This was announced by the leaders of the anti-doping WADA investigation at a press conference in Geneva.

The Commission encouraged disqualify athletes including the duration of the Summer Games 2016 in Rio de Janeiro. Timely reaction of Russian officials will VFLA avoid disqualification at major competitions, the authors of the report, led by Richard Pound.

Among other recommended measures: withdrawal of the Moscow Anti-Doping Laboratory WADA accreditation, the dismissal of its director Gregory Rodchenkova and a lifetime ban dozen trainers and athletes. Among these names – Olympic champion in 2012 and world champion in the 800m Mariya Savinova and bronze medalist at the 2012 Olympic Games the same distance Ekaterina Ekaterina Poistogova. In addition, WADA recommended for life disqualify runners Anastasia Bazdyreva, Tatiana Myazin and Christina Ugarov and coach Alexei Melnikov, Vladimir Kazarina, Vladimir Mohneva and Victor Chegin and international specialists on anti-doping work of Sergei Portugalova.

The commission’s recommendations WADA optional, but one of its members, Richard McLaren, told BBC BBC that he expects that they will be adopted by the International Amateur Athletic Federation (IAAF). Federation has announced that it will consider the suspension or expulsion of its members VFLA.

Allegations of doping

The report was prepared on the basis of the investigation, which took about 11 months. The reason for it was the beginning of the show in December last year, the first channel of German TV documentary, in which Russian athletes and officials accused of massive doping. According to the journalists, Russian athletes have been forced to allocate 5% of their income to cover bribes to officials of the sport, who were engaged in falsification of doping tests. Recognition in this made disqualified until 2023 thrower Eugene Pecherin and devoid of doping title of winner of the London Marathon in 2011 Liliya Shobukhova, which said it would pay € 450 thousand. For hiding his positive doping test.

Promulgated Monday’s 323-page report – only a part of the commission’s findings, Pound said: until the end of the year will be published two parts of the investigation. In the future business will Interpol, the investigation will be headed by a representative of the French police Renault van Ryumbek.

State intervention

According to Pound, everything points to the fact that in Russia there is a doping program, supported by the state. “I do not think that there may be some other explanation – he said at a press conference. – It can not be that the sports minister Vitaly Mutko did not know what was happening. So, he was involved. It is possible that we are dealing with the legacy of the Soviet system ».

The Ministry of Sports directly intervened in the activities of the anti-doping inspectors, told the commission staff interviewed athletes and anti-doping laboratory. “When the Commission asked who gave guidance on the laboratory manipulation of concrete samples, laboratory personnel answered,” There is no need [to name names], because all the instructions came directly from the Ministry of Sports, “- the report says. Laboratory staff were forced to conceal the positive doping test of Russian athletes at the request of the authorities, according to the Commission.

The director of the Moscow anti-doping laboratory Rodchenkov personally ordered the destruction of 1,417 doping tests before checking WADA in December last year, according to inspection . This was done three days before the arrival in Moscow of the audit. “After the arrival of experts found that in lab stores only 3 thousand. Trial, despite the fact that it can be stored for 8-10 thousand. Samples”, – the report says. Experts Commission noted that these actions “forever” destroy the possibility of the commission to find out whether the positive samples in the laboratory.

In addition, to the WADA declared that the Moscow laboratory regularly visited the FSB. Representatives of the Commission argued that its director was forced to meet with a representative of the service on a weekly basis. One of the laboratory staff also spoke to representatives of WADA on tapping, which allegedly led the security services. The Commission found that the staff dealt with FSB officers after attending seminars WADA. In addition, one of the laboratory staff admitted that intelligence agencies monitored the activities of the inspectors and during the Winter Olympics in Sochi in 2014.

«direct intervention in the laboratory of the Russian authorities cast doubt on its independence. Many of the samples, which were taken in the laboratory, should be recognized as suspicious, “- concluded the WADA.

The Commission concluded that” widespread inaction “on the part of the International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF) and the Russian Anti-Doping Agency “RUSADA” actually led to sabotage the Olympic Games in London in 2012. Both organizations have ignored the data on the use of illicit drugs by Russian athletes. “As a result of the Olympic Games in London were in a sense sabotaged because of the participation of those athletes who were not allowed to compete,” – said representatives of WADA.

The reaction of Russia

Minister Mutko briefly commented on the agency “F-Sport” the findings of the investigation, “the commission concludes its work, which was created by WADA. She gave the document, which describes the various things and provides conclusions on the basis of which made certain recommendations. Do not be confused, the Commission has no right to dismiss anyone. We will give a press release at the end of the press conference. ” Later, “Interfax”, he said that the destruction of doping tests carried out in the Moscow laboratory in accordance with WADA. “This was done with the knowledge of WADA, which is a flat circular. There is a procedure later: “With such a sample, save the date.” For the rest there was no guidance, and they were destroyed, “- he said.

Acting. President VFLA Vadim Zelichenok said “F-Sport” that the recommendation to disqualify the Russians against the rules of the organization IAAF. “This issue should be considered by the Board of the organization, which will be held in November. We have no one to say that it is included in the agenda of the meeting, “- he said. According Zelichenko must be proved that the violation is committed by the federation, and not individual competitors. The new leadership of the federation to abuse not involved, as he said.