From Inside the Games
Evidence of 47 cases obtained by the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) from the Moscow Laboratory has been sent to International Federations to begin prosecutions, it was confirmed here today.
WADA is continuing to gather evidence and information against athletes allegedly involved in Russia’s state-sponsored doping program, while at the same time investigating “inconsistencies” found in data retrieved from the Laboratory in January.
The WADA Executive Committee, meeting on the eve of the fifth World Conference on Doping in Sport here, were told that the 47 “evidentiary packages” based on data unaffected by the inconsistencies had been forwarded to the unnamed International Federations.
WADA started sending out the evidence in June based on the Laboratory Information Management System, associated raw data and samples obtained from the Moscow Laboratory.
Jonathan Taylor, chair of WADA’s Independent Compliance Review Committee (CRC), briefed the Executive Committee on the compliance procedure currently underway against the Russian Anti-Doping Agency (RUSADA).
WADA initiated the procedure following identification by the Agency’s Intelligence and Investigations (I&I) Department, and by independent forensic experts, of inconsistencies in the data retrieved by WADA I&I from the Laboratory in the Russian capital.
The WADA Executive Committee was told that the “matter is being dealt with robustly and as quickly as practicable”.
It is hoped the investigation will be completed by the end of this month.
The CRC is then expected to make a recommendation that will be considered by the WADA ruling Executive Committee, which could including reimposing a suspension on RUSADA.
A new declaration of non-compliance would put Russia’s participation at next year’s Olympic and Paralympic Games in Tokyo in jeopardy.
The theme of this year’s World Conference on Doping in Sport is supposed to be the 2021 World Anti-Doping Code and International Standards that were subject of a two-year review process, and which will be presented for discussion by stakeholders here.
