Russia should be banned from athletics after ‘sabotaging’ London 2012 Olympics, says Wada
The report claims that London 2012 Olympics were “sabotaged” by Russian doping athletes.
World Anti-Doping Agency’s independent commission says Russia’s athletics federation should be suspended amid claims of doping.
The agency also declared that all track and field athletes should banned from entering any competition until the country “cleans up its act”.
Wada’s independent commission made the recommendations after allegations of doping, cover-ups, and extortion in Russian athletics.
The report also implicates the IAAF – the sport’s world governing body.
The report identified “systemic failures” in the IAAF that prevent an “effective” anti-doping programme.
In addition, it states the London 2012 Olympics were “sabotaged” by the “widespread inaction” against Russian athletes with suspicious doping profiles.
In a damning 323-page report, the commission recommends that the Wada immediately declare the Russian federation “non-compliant” with the global anti-doping code, and that the IAAF suspend the federation from competition.
The report also recommends that the International Olympic Committee not accept any entries from the Russian federation until the body has been declared complaint with the code and the suspension has been lifted.
Wada commission leader Dick Pound said Russia seemed to have been running a “state-supported” doping programme.
Lord Coe, president of the International Association of Athletics Federations, said these were “dark days for the sport” and added that it faced a “long road to redemption”.
The shocking report comes only weeks after FIFA boss Sepp Blatter admitted the Russia 2018 World Cup was “agreed before any vote took place”.
He revealed the controversial agreement after being asked whether it was a mistake to hold voting for the 2018 and 2022 tournaments simultaneously.
LGBT rights groups in 2010 said they were “deeply concerned” by FIFA’s decision to award the 2018 World Cup to the country.
Echoing their fear, out gay former Leeds Utd footballer Robbie Rogers in January spoke out about upcoming World Cup in the country, saying it is “insane” that the event is being held there, given Russia’s poor record on LGBT rights.
