The head of the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA), Vitold Banka, visited the United States and, following the results of communication with local officials, made a rather loud statement.
He called on the North American professional sports leagues (NHL, NBA, MLB and MLS), as well as the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA), to sign the World Anti-Doping Code, which they still do not adhere to.
According to the Pole, this topic was discussed at a meeting with representatives of the Office of National Drug Control Policy, the National Olympic and Paralympic Committee (USOPC), and the US Anti-Doping Agency (USADA).
As the head of WADA noted, the initiative should come first of all from the last two organizations.
“Probably, for professional leagues, this issue is more problematic: everything is different there, since it is a private business.
But the NCAA is a good example of an organization that should be a signatory.
We gave them some roadmaps... I think it's time to start thinking about cooperation and how we encourage the leagues to sign the code.
We are as open as possible for cooperation, but now the word is up to them,” said Banka.
Supported the initiative of the head of WADA and the former Deputy Director General of RUSADA, international expert on anti-doping issues Margarita Pakhnotskaya.
In her opinion, such a desire of the Pole is quite logical, since it is impossible to leave loopholes for athletes to use prohibited substances.
“Of course, this is a rather big challenge, because professional leagues are not national federations.
However, players playing in the US may also be internationals, so WADA's commitment is sound and fair.
Whether the leagues will meet halfway, it's hard to say.
But over the years of work at RUSADA, I realized that any deviation from the general requirements creates a precedent and sooner or later other interested parties will either have an open question why some can and others can’t, or there will be a desire not to comply with anti-doping rules, ”explained specialist in conversation with RT.
According to Pakhnotskaya, the internal regulations of the leagues can be brought into line with the WADA code, and in resolving the issue it is necessary to rely not only on organizations operating in the United States, but also on international federations.
“All leagues have their own anti-doping rules, which are partly based on the WADA prohibited list, although there are much more lenient conditions in terms of both testing and possible penalties for violations.
There is a basis.
And it can be brought into line with the WADA code.
In my opinion, it is worth communicating not only with USADA and USOPC, but also relying on the role of international federations in these sports and, in general, attracting the sports movement more strongly.
The leagues, although they are independent, still have points of contact with them.
It is necessary to use all possible actors, both internal and external,” the expert added.
However, experts familiar with the NHL and NBA are more skeptical about the situation.
Former scout of the Russian national hockey team, Sergei Fedotov, is sure that none of the US professional leagues will take such a step for a number of reasons.
In particular, due to a mismatch in the lists of drugs considered doping.
“Both the sports and business codes in the leagues are internal.
They also have a list of prohibited substances.
In the NHL, players also take tests.
And the fight against doping is underway.
However, only those drugs are controlled that really increase the physical capabilities of a person and in any case improve sports performance.
Although this is a game sport, not skiing, running or swimming, so everything is conditional.
These substances are banned by the league, quite serious preventive work is being carried out, ”said the interlocutor of RT.
“In the same WADA list, there are drugs that do not increase sports performance in any way, but according to some moral principles are considered prohibited.
In the United States, for example, cannabis is legalized in many cities and provinces.
Naturally, WADA will never agree to allow it, ”said Fedotov.
The specialist also drew attention to the fact that organizations do not want WADA to interfere in their activities.
And this is even more important than inconsistencies in the lists of prohibited substances.
“Independence is their important achievement.
Therefore, none of the leagues, especially when it comes to basketball and hockey, will meet WADA.
I am 99.9% sure of this.
Therefore, Banka's statement seems fantastic to me.
An attempt to take everyone under their banner.
But I see no real reason for organizations, including student organizations, to agree to such a proposal.
Moreover, WADA has discredited itself quite a lot in recent years, ”Fedotov explained.
Basketball agent Obrad Fimich is also confident that the NBA will not agree to sign the WADA code, since then the level of the tournament will drop significantly, which will affect the organization's profits.
“American professional sports are big business with a lot of money.
Every match is a show for spectators.
And if you sign the anti-doping code and start testing players for banned substances, then the level of the NBA will drop dramatically.
Therefore, it is unlikely that the league will do it.
In Europe, basketball players get tired at the end of the game, but this does not happen here.
So they are clearly using aids.
I am a sports person, and when you see the perfect body, questions arise.
It is simply impossible to keep yourself in such a tone for a long time.
You need to be on a strict diet, and many players like to eat french fries and other fast food, ”said Fimich.
According to him, the NBA now checks only for the presence of cocaine and marijuana in the blood.
“And now there is a conversation about leaving only drugs, and allowing marijuana as a means of recovery,” added the interlocutor of RT.
In any case, WADA has voiced its intentions, and then it will become clear whether the organization has enough resources to carry out its plan and push (or force) professional leagues to sign the code.