Craig Reedie said that global suspicion of RUSADA will remain until it becomes fully compliant.GETTY IMAGES
WADA President Craig Reedie complained on Wednesday of "slow progress by Russian authorities" toward making the Russian Anti-Doping Agency (RUSADA) compliant with int'l standards, according to Brian Homewood of REUTERS. Reedie said that he was "encouraged by the significant progress" made by RUSADA but added that it was "still taking too long." He said, "We want to welcome an independent and efficient RUSADA back in from the cold. ... It's just a pity it is taking so long for Russian authorities to make it happen." Reedie said that the slow progress was "despite a significant amount of work being carried out by WADA to persuade the Russian authorities to recognize and accept as true the systemic doping scheme as revealed by the McLaren report." There was no immediate comment to Reedie's remarks by Russia, which has "repeatedly denied systemic doping." Reedie: "The big losers are Russia's own athletes. ... Future participation of Russian athletes at major sporting events will continue to be put in doubt" (REUTERS, 3/21). In London, Martyn Ziegler reported Reedie said that "a direct approach to Russian officials plus four letters has failed to achieve any success." Russia must give WADA access to samples sealed in storage before the suspension of RUSADA can be lifted. WADA "recently doubled its investigations and intelligence team" from three to six people, with a seventh joining soon. But the team is presently "only able to deal with" 12% of the information it receives from whistleblowers (LONDON TIMES, 3/21). Also in London, Sean Ingle reported RUSADA Dir General Yuri Ganus insisted his organization "had made changes." But when asked why it was not acknowledging the McLaren report, he said, "It's not a question that depends on us … it's about negotiation" (GUARDIAN, 3/21).
