The Russian Anti-Doping Agency is "ready to take its first toddling steps back to credibility later this month," according to Bonnie Ford of ESPN.com. So said WADA's Foundation Board, which "lengthened RUSADA's leash slightly Thursday without unclipping it." RUSADA will be permitted to begin "limited testing" of Russian athletes in June "if its leadership fulfills a commitment to de-politicize itself." Full reinstatement "could come in November if the agency can demonstrate it has emerged from a two-year stretch of scandal, defiant rhetoric and erratic progress." Even then, the "testing gap that has yawned between Russia and other major sporting countries since its program went into limbo will take time to bridge." In practical terms, this means retired pole vaulter, current RUSADA board chair and "ardent WADA critic" Yelena Isinbayeva will be "booted out of office." Thursday, former WADA President Dick Pound called her appointment in December "a clear provocation" (ESPN.com, 5/18). REUTERS' Steve Keating reported WADA Compliance & Review Committee Chair Rob Koehler did not mention Isinbayeva by name when giving his report on the Russian situation to the Foundation Board on Thursday, but confirmed "changes were coming" when questioned. Pound asked, "Is this the person about whom everyone has complained?" Koehler said, "To be clear, as of the 31st of May, the person will be gone." While Koehler pointed to progress, Pound has "not been impressed particularly by Isinbayeva's presence." Pound said, "They (Russia) are clearly jerking us around putting the pole vaulter (Isinbayeva) in charge. That was Russia basically giving us this," he added, holding up his middle finger. Other changes being demanded by WADA include "drug testers being allowed access to closed cities, where athletes continue to find sanctuary from testing, access to athlete biological passports and the implementation of a conflict of interest policy" (REUTERS, 5/18).
