"Violations are very serious": RUSADA's supervisory board recommended the dismissal of Ganus

"There are questions that are associated with the presence of serious risks in the field of financial and economic activities"

The fact that the head of RUSADA Yuri Ganus may lose his post became known on Wednesday afternoon. The supervisory board of the organization, following the meeting in the format of a videoconference, recommended the functionary to vacate his position.

This decision was made following the results of the audit, which revealed violations in the activities of the management of RUSADA.

“We considered everything related to the organization's activity report. Given the risks and problems, a proposal was made to consider the issue of dismissing Ganus. There is no hard recommendation on this score. Then the general meeting of founders will decide, I do not know the timing, "R-Sport quotes the words of the chairman of the supervisory board Alexander Ivlev.

In an interview with RT, he spoke in more detail about the course of the meeting. According to Ivlev, a number of violations "related to the conclusion of procedures for the approval of certain contracts" were discussed there. At the same time, he stressed that the discussion of the audit was only one of the topics of the event. 

“There are questions that are related specifically to the presence of serious risks in the field of financial and economic activities, and related to the shortcomings of the internal control system in the financial part. Therefore, these topics were raised and discussed today. We received appropriate explanations for some of the questions. Others, it seems to me, require further elaboration and further conversations, ”Ivlev said.

In addition, the chairman of the supervisory board stressed that Ganus at the meeting had the opportunity to respond to accusations against the management of RUSADA. But, according to Ivlev, in the eyes of the majority of the members of the supervisory board, his authority has fallen dramatically.

“In fact, the majority said they had no trust in the CEO. The second recommendation was to what extent Ganus, taking into account the above, can remain in his position, ”Ivlev explained.

Finally, the chairman of the supervisory board told how the elections of the new head of RUSADA will be held in the event that Ganus leaves his post. 

“If this happens, a special commission will be formed, consisting of three members of the Supervisory Board, which will carry out certain procedures for the selection of candidates. The Supervisory Board will be presented with several candidates of those people who, from the point of view of professionalism, will be able to head the agency. Maybe at first it will be the role of the acting general director, and then we'll see, ”Ivlev summed up. 

"I hope for the wisdom of the founders of RUSADA"

In turn, Ganus, commenting on the results of the meeting, called the provided audit report "controversial" and "incomplete".

“Moreover, we are challenging him in a self-regulatory organization. The Supervisory Board did not even wait for this decision and came out with a recommendation to dismiss. But, once again: everything has always been in the hands of our sports jurisdiction, those people who make decisions. Everything remains that way now. I want to say: this decision will determine the future of the Olympic and Paralympic Committee, "the head of RUSADA told reporters.

He also admitted that he hopes for the wisdom of the founders of the Russian Anti-Doping Agency, who will decide the fate of the functionary.

It is still unknown when this story will end, but the head of the Russian Olympic Committee Stanislav Pozdnyakov said that the ROC would determine the date of the meeting together with colleagues from the RPC. But, according to him, the violations committed by the leadership of RUSADA "are of a very serious nature."

"Today's decisions of the Supervisory Board, adopted almost unanimously, about distrust of RUSADA General Director Yuri Ganus and the inexpediency of his further stay in this position look unambiguous," the official website of the ROC quotes the functionary as saying.

And the Minister of Sports, Oleg Matytsin, recalled that the supervisory board's verdict is only recommendatory, while the final decision will remain with the general meeting.

The State Duma also commented on the incident. The deputy, as well as the Olympic champion in speed skating, Svetlana Zhurova, said that violations committed by RUSADA could negatively affect Russia's cooperation with the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA).

“WADA agreed on his candidacy, it was not easy for a man to suit both sides. A sufficiently serious accusation has been brought forward, if it is proven, and WADA does not need such scandals. Maybe this will be considered by law enforcement agencies. There are already enough problems, but undoubtedly this position should be occupied by an almost ideal person, so that there are no questions to him, ”TASS quotes Zhurova.

And Dmitry Svishchev, member of the State Duma Committee on Physical Culture, Sports, Tourism and Youth Affairs, called the possible dismissal of Ganus "an extraordinary event in the world of anti-doping agencies."

“Everyone understands that this is an important decision, no one would have taken it just like that. I am sure this is only the beginning of events, ”the deputy suggested.

"A person who retains the remnants of conscience in such a situation simply writes a statement"

The fact that the audit discovered violations of RUSADA's financial activities became known in mid-July. At the same time, Pozdnyakov accused Ganus of trying to approve the auditor and the reporting "retroactively". He also promised that law enforcement agencies will have access to information based on the results of the audit. And on July 14, the audit report was made public.

In response, RUSADA published a statement on the current situation on its official website. The agency expressed bewilderment that "confidential information" was posted on the websites of the ROC and RPC.

“The ROC and the RPC, publicizing this controversial report, did not even try to get clarifications from RUSADA, thus confirming the fact that they themselves do not fully understand the organization of professional activities of anti-doping agencies,” the statement said.

And Matytsin noted that if the agency's management made mistakes, then they should be responsible for them.

“We are informed about what is happening in RUSADA. There are legal mechanisms and the charter of RUSADA, there is a general meeting and a supervisory board. If mistakes were made, the people who made them should be held accountable, ”the minister noted.

After that, many public people called on Ganus to resign, for example, two-time Olympic champion, State Duma deputy Vyacheslav Fetisov. In his opinion, the functionary should have temporarily left his post.

Tina Kandelaki, TV presenter and general producer of the Match TV channel, also made a harsh statement. She stated that Ganus "improved his English" at the expense of RUSADA and is used to pouring accusations while his work "looks more like sabotage."

“In my opinion, a person who retains the remnants of conscience in such a situation simply writes a statement and gives way to someone whose reputation does not interfere with working in such a serious position to restore our position. So what are you waiting for? Sinking Russian sports is perhaps your hobby, but not a profession at all, ”Kandelaki wrote in her Telegram channel.