The Supervisory Board of the Russian Anti-Doping Agency (RUSADA) has studied an independent audit of the activities of this organization. Following the meeting, a recommendation was made to dismiss the head of RUSADA Yuri Ganus from his post.
“We considered everything related to the report on the activities of the organization. Given the risks and problems, a proposal was made to consider the issue of dismissing Ganus. There is no hard recommendation on this score. Further, the general meeting of founders will decide, I do not know the timing, ”- this is how the chairman of the board Alexander Ivlev commented on the decision of the supervisory board.
Let me remind you that the claims against Yuri Ganus are in violation of the procedures for concluding contracts with RUSADA contractors, excessive expenses for taxi services and payment for English language courses. Ganus himself rejected the claims, called the audit tendentious and soon began to make quite amazing statements that he was in a good mood and, if anything, was not going to die.
We must pay tribute to the head of RUSADA - he knows how to create a resonance around himself. But we must not forget that our sport is now in the most difficult situation in the entire history of its existence. The hybrid war has made the phrase "Sports outside politics" irrelevant, and in order to regain positions in international sports organizations, not only athletes, but also functionaries must be impeccable. Our anti-doping agency, for all its independence, cannot be an exception.
I have no doubt that the same WADA, which is now openly pressured by the United States, can use this situation for new accusations against our country. But this does not mean that we should close our eyes and be silent about certain violations.
Transparency and consistency starts with yourself.
Here I cannot but agree with Svetlana Zhurova: it is critically important that the head of the Russian anti-doping agency, whose status so strongly influences the position and prospects of Russian sports in the international arena, be occupied by a person with an impeccable reputation.
In any case, the preservation of the current situation, when the supervisory board of RUSADA does not trust the head of the organization, when proceedings are underway in the Court of Arbitration for Sport, on which the fate of our athletes depends, is, in my opinion, unacceptable. Personal ambitions and career prospects will definitely not save Russian sport, but recognition and correction of mistakes will definitely help it.
The author's point of view may not coincide with the position of the editorial board.