The news that the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) may deprive the Russian Anti-Doping Agency (RUSADA) of compliance status has excited the country's sports community. Russia was given a three-week deadline to explain the inconsistencies found in two databases of the Moscow Anti-Doping Laboratory, one of which WADA received earlier this year.
Russian President’s spokesman Dmitry Peskov commented on the situation: “We know that WADA does have a number of questions, now we have set a deadline of three weeks to prepare an answer to these questions. During these three weeks, you just have to wait. The Kremlin does not contact WADA on this topic, it is a question that concerns the sports authorities of Russia, and that is where the answer will be prepared. ”
Head of the Russian Olympic Committee (ROC) Stanislav Pozdnyakov believes that now the participation of Russian athletes in the Olympic Games next summer may be at risk if RUSADA does not prepare a proper WADA response within three weeks.
“Judging by the fact that, based on the report of the Compliance Committee by the Executive Committee, WADA has already initiated consideration of the issue of RUSADA status under the accelerated procedure, the situation is very serious. For a short period of three weeks, our organizations responsible for the procedure for transferring the database must either conclusively refute suspicions of any manipulations on the Russian side, or take comprehensive measures to identify the persons involved in this story. Otherwise, along with the problem associated with the status of RUSADA and the ensuing consequences for our entire sport, the prospects for the participation of the Russian Olympic team at the Games in Tokyo next year will be threatened, ”said Pozdnyakov.
He added that if OCD is removed, it will happen for reasons that are independent of the organization itself.
“We have spent a large number of diplomatic efforts on regaining the confidence of the international sports community, and on Russian athletes the right to compete in Olympic competitions without any restrictions. But now again we run the risk of facing certain sanctions for reasons to which we have nothing to do. I hope that our colleagues who are authorized to deal with this problem will quickly sort out the texture on which the questions raised by WADA are based. And they will give convincing answers, ”concluded Pozdnyakov.
In turn, the former president of the ROC, Leonid Tyagachev, in a conversation with RT drew attention to the fact that the International Olympic Committee (IOC) had already announced the invitation of Russia to Tokyo, and saw no reason for the athletes to be suspended now because of RUSADA.
“I agree only that the decision of the IOC to admit our team to the Olympics in Japan is correct and that today we meet all the requirements for all sports that are necessary for the IOC. This is the most important message, and the details will now begin in individual sports, because we know how to relate to athletics, and even to the bar, and boxing, and I think that these should be clear answers, for this we must have the data that we are hearing about now, ”Tyagachev said.
The emergence of such scandals before the Olympic Games is inevitable, since they are created purposefully, believes Sergey Krivonosov, deputy chairman of the State Duma committee on physical education, sports, tourism and youth affairs. He also said that WADA should not threaten RUSADA with suspension without solid evidence.
“I believe that this is a continuation of the story when our ill-wishers found a reason to try to compromise our country. I believe that they are under pressure from the United States and all these actions are aimed at trying to go back. But the point has already been passed, and Russia has proved by its own affairs that it takes anti-doping issues very seriously. Therefore, I consider attempts in this tone to bring us claims unacceptable. I believe that unsubstantiated allegations are not even worth the discussion. It turns out that the closer to the Olympic Games, the more such stories appear. That is, it is a focused task. I think our officials need to be prepared and act in an appropriate legal plane, ”Krivonosov said in a conversation with RT.
Olympic champion in speed skating and State Duma deputy Svetlana Zhurova believes that investigating authorities should join this case to help RUSADA provide the necessary information.
“The fact is that we do not see documents, we don’t know what this database looks like and what claims are presented, we need to look at the documents and understand what kind of manipulations, what kind of falsification of documents has occurred. For what period? It’s also important. During the time of Mr. Rodchenkov’s existence (ex-head of the Moscow anti-doping laboratory, WADA informant Grigory Rodchenkov. - RT ) or was this later? But until we know this, we have three weeks. We know that for some time the base was located in the Investigative Committee of Russia, they conducted their research and investigative actions, they probably can also have answers, ”Zhurova told RT.
She also called premature talk about the removal of the Russian team from the Olympic Games.
“Even if they remove the same RUSADA, explaining this by the fact that some violations were made while it is not related to the athletes. We understand that the same saga will begin, which was before. Probably, they can again make some separate decisions, if this is proved. For example, the Athletics Federation has problems, and the Speed Skating Federation does not have a single problem, that is, they will make concrete decisions in three weeks what to do with it, ”added the former athlete.
Sports lawyer Artyom Patsev believes that in this situation, RUSADA is required more than it can do.
“As we see from the position of international sports organizations, no one is interested in whether the current leadership of RUSADA and VFLA can be responsible for situations that occurred without their participation,” said Pacov TASS.