WADA To Allow RUSADA To Resume Drug Testing Under UKAD Supervision

Russia "can resume drug testing of its athletes under supervision," the World Anti-Doping Agency announced, according to the BBC. The Russian Anti-Doping Agency (RUSADA) was suspended in '15 after its staff was accused of "covering up drug use" in a report by lawyer Richard McLaren. WADA said that RUSADA would now be able to "plan and co-ordinate" testing under the watch of UK Anti-Doping. WADA President Craig Reedie called it "an important step forward in rebuilding anti-doping in Russia." WADA added that it made the ruling to allow RUSADA to resume testing "after it agreed to fulfil certain conditions." The conditions include access to athletes' biological passports, the implementation of a conflict of interest policy and guarantees that drug testers would be allowed into so-called "closed cities," the military units where many Russian athletes train (BBC, 6/27).