The Disappearing Russian Doping Tests

The report released by the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) that called for a complete ban of Russian Athletes from the 2016 Olympics shows a pattern of cover-ups, including tests for banned substances disappearing. That allowed athletes to continue to compete despite testing positive for banned susbstances.

The scandal envelopes athletes in all disciplines and dates back to 2012.

“Russian Ministry of Sport orchestrated systematic cheating of Russian athletes to subvert the doping control process; and that, the evidence shows such subversion in 30 sports, including 20 Olympic summer sports and Paralympic sports, the presumption of innocence of athletes in these sports, and in all Russian sports, is seriously called into question.” — WADA

You can read the entire McLaren Report here.

Key Findings

1. The Moscow Laboratory operates, for the protection of Russian athletes, within a State-dictated failsafe system, described in the report as the Disappearing Positive Methodology.
2. The Sochi Laboratory operated a unique sample swapping methodology to enable doped Russian athletes to compete at the Games.
3. The Ministry of Sport directed, controlled and oversaw the manipulation of athlete’s analytical results or sample swapping, with the active participation and assistance of the FSB, CSP, and both Moscow and Sochi Laboratories.

Russia loses appeal, could face total Olympic ban over doping

“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

Putin calls for independent commission

As you an imagine, Russian officials are not happy. “We are witnessing a dangerous relapse of politics’ interference into sports,” Russian President Vladimir Putin said via TASS/Russian news agency.

Still, Putin has called for the creation of an independent commission or foreign experts to address Russia’s doping problem. Putin suggested that the commission be chaired by Vitaly Smirnov, a former vice-president of the International Olympic Committee and a current honorary member of the IOC.

Recommended Sanctions

WADA does not have the authority to ban athletes from the Olympics. That falls within the jurisdiction of the IOC. The organization does recommend the following based on the report:

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.

1. 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.
2. 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.
3. Russian government officials to be denied access to international competitions, including Rio 2016.
4. 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.
5. The accreditation process of the WADA-accredited laboratory in Moscow (Moscow laboratory) to be stopped.
6. The FIFA Ethics Committee to look into allegations concerning football and the role played by a member of its Executive Committee, Minister Vitaly Mutko.
7. Professor McLaren and his team to complete their mandate provided WADA can secure the funding that would be required.

“All athletes have a right to clean sport and a right to compete clean. Now is the time for sporting organizations to stand up against doping and affirm in the most robust ways possible their commitment to protecting clean athletes and zero tolerance. This can only be achieved through the collective sanctioning (of athletes, officials and organisations) that has been recommended.” — WADA

The report shows disappearing results dating back to the 2012 Summer Olympics where Russian athletes won 79 medals.