WADA Bosses Recommend Russia Blanket Ban For Rio 2016, With Bar On Putin’s Politicians

Following a WADA Executive Committee meeting held on Monday, July 18 to discuss the McLaren Investigation Report and its findings, including that Russia ran a state-sponsored doping program, WADA issued the following statement, topped by recommendations that Russia be barred from the Rio 2016 Olympic Games across all sports and that Russian government officials be denied access to all international competitions, including Rio 2016.

The latter would include Vladimir Putin, the Russian President to whom FINA granted its highest honour in 2014.

The WADA Statement in full:

It is important to note the following:

The recommendations are made by the WADA Executive Committee with the clear understanding that WADA does not have the authority or remit in respect of entries to competitions. The Executive Committee expressed the firm wish that all responsible organizations exercise their responsibilities within their regulations and this is what is reflected in the following media release.

The WADA Executive Committee’s key recommendations based on the McLaren Investigation Report are set out below. The necessary decisions should be taken by the relevant organizations based on their own rules and regulations.

The International Olympic Committee (IOC) and the International Paralympic Committee (IPC) to consider, under their respective Charters, to decline entries, for Rio 2016, of all athletes submitted by the Russian Olympic Committee (ROC) and the Russian Paralympic Committee. The International Federations (IFs) from sports implicated in the McLaren Report to consider their responsibilities under the World Anti-Doping Code (Code) as far as their Russian National Federations (NFs) are concerned. Russian government officials to be denied access to international competitions, including Rio 2016. The Russian National Anti-Doping Agency (RUSADA) to remain non-compliant under the Code and its staffing and independence to be further reviewed by WADA. The accreditation process of the WADA-accredited laboratory in Moscow (Moscow laboratory) to be stopped. The FIFA Ethics Committee to look into allegations concerning football and the role played by a member of its Executive Committee, Minister Vitaly Mutko. Professor McLaren and his team to complete their mandate provided WADA can secure the funding that would be required.

Montreal, 18 July 2016 – The World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) announces publication of the McLaren Investigation Report (McLaren Report), which was released earlier today by Professor Richard H. McLaren during a press conference that he held, in Toronto, Canada.

On 18 May, WADA engaged Professor McLaren, as an Independent Person, to investigate allegations of Russian state manipulation of the doping control process, which were made by Dr. Grigory Rodchenkov, the former director of the WADA-accredited laboratory in Moscow.  The allegations were released by CBS 60 Minutes and The New York Times on 8 and 12 May respectively.

Specifically, per the McLaren Investigation’s Terms of Reference, Professor McLaren was asked to establish the facts related to the following:

Whether there had been manipulation of the doping control process during the 2014 Sochi Olympic and Paralympic Games, including but not limited to, acts of tampering with the samples within the WADA-accredited satellite laboratory in Sochi (Sochi laboratory) that was established for the Games. To identify the ‘modus operandi’ and those involved in such manipulation. To identify any athlete that might have benefited from such manipulation to conceal positive doping tests. To identify if potentially this ‘modus operandi’ was also happening within the Moscow laboratory outside the period of the 2014 Sochi Games. Whether there was any other evidence or information held by Dr. Rodchenkov.

Today’s 103-page Report outlines the following key findings that meet the standard of beyond reasonable doubt:

The Moscow laboratory operated, for the protection of doped Russian athletes, within a State-dictated failsafe system, described in the Report as the Disappearing Positive Methodology. The Sochi laboratory operated a unique sample swapping methodology to enable doped Russian athletes to compete at the Games. The Ministry of Sport directed, controlled and oversaw the manipulation of athletes’ analytical results and sample swapping, with the active participation and assistance of the Federal Security Service (FSB); the Center of Sports Preparation of National Teams of Russia (CSP); and, both Moscow and Sochi laboratories.

“WADA is grateful to Richard McLaren, his team, and other contributors that, …

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