From Inside the Games
International Olympic Committee (IOC) President Thomas Bach and World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) counterpart Sir Craig Reedie have had a “clear the air” meeting here today at which “perceived misunderstandings” were addressed.
According to an IOC statement, both figures “expressed their determination to move forward together with the shared goal of strengthening the fight against doping and protecting clean athletes”.
“We are now hoping to move forward and cooperate on issues such as independent testing, compliance, and good governance,” Sir Craig told insidethegames afterwards.
“This is necessary going forward.”
It follows a tumultuous period of conflict between the two organisations ever since the IOC rejected a WADA call in July for a blanket ban on Russian athletes participating at the Olympic Games in RIo de Janeiro following allegations of state-sponsored doping.
They instead gave individual International Federations the power to determine eligibility in their particular sport.
WADA was subject to wave after wave of attacks by members during August’s IOC Session in Rio de Janeiro and then again when Sir Craig presented at the Association of National Olympic Committees General Assembly in Doha last month.
There were even suggestions Sir Craig would be pushed out of the WADA Presidency before he was successfully re-elected for a fresh three-year term last month.
Key allies of Bach, including IOC vice-president Juan Antonio Samaranch, have called for wide-ranging limitations to the power of WADA following perceived mistakes made in recent years.
Anti-doping figures swiftly hit back by criticising the IOC stance on Russia, as well as their Olympic Summit-forum for failing to address doping problems.
It is likely all of these topics were discussed at today’s meeting arranged by Bach.
