The World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) has ruled that the Russian Anti-Doping Agency (RUSADA) is non-compliant with the WADA Code.
RUSADA vehemently disagrees.
“The Russian Anti-Doping Agency remains non-compliant,” WADA told the publication Inside the Games.
“That is related to the 2020 decision by the Court of Arbitration for Sport to declare RUSADA non-compliant and implement a number of consequences on Russian sport for a period of two years.
“RUSADA will remain non-compliant until it fulfils each of the reinstatement conditions in full as laid out by CAS and until WADA has been able to verify that as per the agreed process.”
This is despite Russian President Vladimir Putin signing a bill that gives RUSADA the authority to approve national anti-doping rules.
The country’s Sports Minister Oleg Matytsin claimed it “will demonstrate Russia’s responsible and consistent approach in the fight against doping.”
Matytsin noted that this year Russia became the largest donor to UNESCO’s Fund for the Elimination of Doping in Sports following a $150,000 (£118,000/€136,000) contribution.
Russia’s participation in the 2024 Paris Olympic Games in peril
WADA’s decision is just the latest in a long line of organisations which are preventing Russia from participating in the 2024 Paris Olympic Games — but for the war on Ukraine, rather than for non-compliance to do with doping. From the mayor of Paris to German Canoeing, World Athletics, European Athletics, Germany’s Interior Minister, Poland, the Czech Republic and Sweden have refused to play in FIFA qualifiers that include Russia. This list goes on. Only the International Olympic Committee President Thomas Bach has remained supportive of Russia for the upcoming Games.
RUSADA disagrees with the ruling.
“At the moment, the draft law on amending Articles 26 and 26-1 of the Federal Law ‘On Physical Culture and Sports in the Russian Federation’ is under consideration in the first reading in the State Duma,” read a RUSADA statement, as reported by Russian state-run news agency TASS.
“The comment on the legislation does not apply to the operating activities of RUSADA, differences in the text of the Code and federal law do not in any way limit the agency in implementing the provisions of international standards.
“The activities of RUSADA are governed by the All-Russian Anti-Doping Rules, which, in turn, are fully consistent with the provisions of the World Anti-Doping Code.
“In addition, on May 9, 2023, amendments to the federal law came into force, giving RUSADA the right to approve the All-Russian Anti-Doping Rules.”
