The director general of the Russian Anti-Doping Agency (RUSADA), Veronika Loginova, announced in April that she is ready to run against Witold Bańka for the presidency of the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA).
Seven months later, Loginova is attending her first WADA annual conference. Yet, RUSADA and Loginova will attend without a recognized status by WADA. Loginova’s focused intention is on having RUSADA reinstated by WADA.
The conference will take place from December 2 to the 5th in Busan, South Korea. Two other RUSADA members will also be attending.
The Russian doping saga seems to know no bounds. Recently, WADA sanctioned a dozen former Russian athletes, dating back to doping tests from the 2012 London Olympic Games. The doping story began to unfold in 2012 and continues to this day.
About the conference
The purpose of the conference is a high-level meeting that brings together over 1,500 representatives from sport governance and anti-doping to discuss the World Anti-Doping program.
The primary focus of the 2025 conference will be the presentation and final approval of the proposed 2027 WADA Code. Meanwhile, the WADA Executive Committee and Foundation Board will also hold a joint meeting on December 5, 2025, in Busan to formally approve the new Code and Standards.
RUSADA’s reappearance at the global forum comes at a time when the agency continues to be marked by a history of scandals.
Currently, WADA and the United States Anti-Doping Agency (RUSADA) are at loggerheads over respective governance practices. For example, WADA is under fire, not just from USADA, for allowing the Chinese Anti-Doping Agency (CHINADA) to exonerate 23 Chinese swimmers who all tested positive for the same performance-enhancing drug.
USADA is under fire for allegedly protecting athletes who use the contaminated meat excuse — the same one that CHINADA used for the swimmers.
Whatever the outcome from the annual conference in Busan and Loginova’s attempts to return RUSADA to compliance or run for the head of WADA, the International Olympic Committee casts a suspicious eye.
“It is a cynical attempt by the Russian Federation to politicize sport.” The IOC has also accused Moscow of “total disregard for the global anti-doping standards and the integrity of competitions,” citing concerns raised last week by ency (WADA) about institutionalized doping at the Sochi Games 10 years ago.
“This position is reinforced by the fact that the Russian National Anti-Doping Agency (RUSADA) is currently non-compliant with the Code, there is currently no WADA-accredited laboratory in Russia, and overall confidence in the anti-doping system in Russia remains low,” the IOC said.
Declaration by the IOC against the politicization of sport
While it could be argued that the IOC contradicts its Declaration. The IOC reaffirmed its strong position against the politicization of sport — a so-called Fundamental Principle of the Olympic Charter.
“Recognizing that sport occurs within the framework of society, sports organizations within the Olympic Movement shall apply political neutrality. They have the rights and obligations of autonomy, which include freely establishing and controlling the rules of sport, determining the structure and governance of their organizations, enjoying the right of elections free from any outside influence and the responsibility for ensuring that principles of good governance are applied.”
The Olympic Charter also states:
“The mission of the IOC is to promote Olympism throughout the world and to lead the Olympic Movement. The IOC’s role is: (…) to oppose any political or commercial abuse of sport and athletes.”
The IOC under former president waxed and waned on his opinion as to whether RUSADA and the Russian Olympic Committee should compete internationally after being found to run a systematic doping program.
It will be interesting to see where Kirsty Coventry, the new president, stands.
Veronika Loginova
Veronika Loginova was elected as director general of RUSADA on December 4, 2021.
She was previously the advisor to the Rector of the Russian International Olympic University on the development of anti-doping programs.
Loginova is an independent UNESCO expert appointed to work with the Bureau of the Conference of the Parties to the International Convention against Doping in Sport and the Committee. The purpose is of her role is for the Approval of Projects Submitted to the Fund for the Elimination of Doping in sports.
Previously, she was a member of a group of experts appointed by the World Anti-Doping Agency to implement the WADA Outreach educational program during the Sochi Olympic Games. She took part in the activities of the Special European Committee on interaction with the WADA and the special commissions of the Monitoring Group of the Council of Europe on science, education and legal issues.
Loginova began working in anti-doping in 2010.
