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The credibility of the Russian athletics has been reduced to zero, Monday, November 9, the ratio of an independent commission of inquiry that uncovers a state doping, casting doubt on the overall performance of Russian athletes and the results of the London Olympics in 2012 and Sochi in 2014.
Five days after the indictment in France of the former head of world athletics, Lamine Diack, and its head of anti-doping, Gabriel Dollé, in a corruption case, a new blow is brought to the sport king of the Olympics, and others should follow.
Process suspension of the Russian Federation
As recommended by the Commission of Inquiry established by the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA), the International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF) has immediately initiated the process to suspend the Russian Federation. The participation of Russian athletes at the Rio Olympics in 2016 will only be possible at the cost of rapid recovery and credible order of their federation, emphasized the Chairman of the Committee, Dick Pound.
The Committee further recommends the withdrawal of Moscow’s anti-doping laboratory accreditation, the banning of anti-doping Russian agency and lifetime suspension of five athletes – including Olympic champion in the 800 m, Maria Savinova – and five coaches .
The commission of inquiry was set up following revelations of ARD on the functioning of the Russian athletics. But the scale of the discoveries offenses was “worse than expected” , estimated Mr. Pound, former Canadian WADA President.
Read also : The Russian athletics undermined by doping
“No other conclusion possible” that a state doping
At a press conference Geneva, Mr. Pound has confirmed the complicity of members of the IAAF in the coverage of positive cases and directly challenging the Russian state:
“Our conclusion is that this would have been possible without that the authorities are aware of and do not give their consent, express or implied. “
Does this mean that it was a state doping?
” If by that we mean to consent and authorize r [doping] yes, there is no other possible conclusion. “
Moscow’s involvement in the doping of athletes was shown in particular by the frequent presence of an agent of the FSB, the Russian secret services in Moscow anti-doping laboratory. This monitoring was particularly felt during the Sochi Winter Olympics, which saw Russia finish in medal table of the head (33, 13 gold): “We have no evidence solid that samples [Olympic Games in Sochi] were manipulated but it is difficult to see what interest the Russian state can find athletes to urine “, commented Dick Pound.
“Producing winners”
The Laboratory Director Grigory Rodchenkov, notably acknowledged destroying 1417 samples to prevent WADA to perform new tests after revelations about Russian athletics. Mr. Rodchenkov talked once a week, with a FSB agent. One can read in the report of the Committee:
“Statements of witnesses and other evidence he appears highlighted a high level of collusion among athletes, coaches, doctors, officials and sports agencies to provide systematically for Russian athletes doping substances to achieve the main objective of the state (…) produce winners “.
The investigation of the Commission focused on in recent years only, but Dick Pound suggested that doping of State during decades in Russia:
” We suppose, but that’s just a guess, it’s an attitude inherited from the era of the cold war, 60s, 70s and 80s “
FIFA, the Winter Olympics and swimming, indirect victims
The findings of this report are far from the only concern athletics and Russia alone. Russian Sports Minister Vitaly Mutko, the judge commission “accomplice” of this system, is also a member of the executive committee of FIFA and president of the organizing committee of the World Cup 2018 . Russia
The credibility of every competition that took place in recent years in Russia and controlled by the Moscow laboratory appears well under way: in addition to the Winter Games in Sochi in 2014 include eg Championships World Swim 2015 (Kazan) and those of Athletics in 2013 (Moscow).
A global survey
The interim report will be followed by at the end of year two supplements:
- The one on the passivity of the IAAF as to the long list of suspicious blood profiles, revealed by ARD and Sunday Times in August. In this regard, Kenya could be the next federation questioned by the Commission of Inquiry, suggested Dick Pound.
- The other on suspicion of corruption and concealment of the positive controls by the highest officials of the IAAF, after the French justice has given its green light to the commission. On this issue, Interpol announced in the wake of the report’s launching of a worldwide survey, led by France and the evocative nickname “Augean”
It will take at. least that to clean the stables of world sport, including 2015 have highlighted the appalling dirt.
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