Former World Anti-Doping Agency President Dick Pound will "head an independent commission investigating allegations of
systematic doping and cover-ups in Russia," according to the PA. The lawyer will chair the three-man commission and will be joined by a
"fellow Canadian, Professor Richard McLaren, a longstanding member of
the Court of Arbitration for Sport." It follows a program broadcast by the German TV station ARD on doping in Russia, "which also alleged the IAAF world athletics body had failed to follow up on suspicious blood tests from more than 150 athletes including three from Britain." WADA President Craig Reedie said, "The independent commission has the vital task of reviewing the
allegations aired during the documentaries, as well as all other
information received separately by WADA, to determine if there have been
any violations to anti-doping rules" (PA, 12/16). The AP reported WADA said that the investigation will "begin next month." The panel will seek to determine if there have been "any violations of
the World Anti-Doping Code by athletes, coaches, doctors, trainers and
WADA-accredited laboratories that could lead to sanctions against
individuals or organizations." WADA said that the panel will review the evidence aired by the German
broadcaster as well as "other information received separately" by the
agency (AP, 12/16). The IAAF welcomed WADA's announcement of its three-person independent commission that will investigate the allegations. IAAF President Lamine Diack said, "The IAAF takes this opportunity to reiterate its full support of the WADA investigation. Our primary concern must always be to protect the integrity of competition in support of the vast majority of clean athletes, and we look forward to working with WADA to this end" (IAAF).
RUSSIA DEMANDS TO SEE MATERIAL: REUTERS' Dmitriy Rogovitskiy reported Russia's Athletics Federation (VFLA) wants to see an "unedited version of the material used by German journalist Hajo Seppelt in his documentary about alleged widespread doping in Russian sport." Lawyer Artem Patsev said, "The federation has demanded an unedited version of Seppelt's material to find out what exactly those who took part in the documentary actually said." The allegations have "not been verified" and the head of Russia's Athletics Federation denounced the claims as "a pack of lies" (REUTERS, 12/16).
