The "civil war in global anti-doping has intensified further" after WADA was accused by 13 major anti-doping agencies -- including the U.K. and U.S. -- of "moving the goalposts," according to Sean Ingle of the London GUARDIAN. The agencies said that WADA was "sending a message to the world that doping is tolerated" over its willingness to "strike a deal with Russia." In an "extraordinary attack," the 13 agencies added that they were "dismayed" by WADA's behavior. They "further insisted" that WADA must postpone Thursday’s decision to reinstate the Russian Anti-Doping Agency (RUSADA) because the Russians had not met WADA's "open roadmap to return." UK Anti-Doping CEO Nicole Sapstead said that the response "highlighted the gravity of the situation." Sapstead: "This is a defining moment. The roadmap for RUSADA's return was agreed through a proper process by WADA, yet at zero hour they have changed it. It is pretty much sticking two fingers up at the athletes and the organizations that work tirelessly on their behalf. I am deeply troubled by the way it has been handled. To me it looks dodgy." In a "growing sign of the disillusionment" with WADA President Craig Reedie and Dir General Olivier Niggli, seven of WADA's 17-strong athletes’ commission "separately said on Tuesday that Russia should not be allowed to return" (GUARDIAN, 9/18).
AGAINST THE GRAIN: The BBC's Dan Roan reported WADA VP Linda Helleland said that she will "vote against lifting the suspension" of RUSADA this week. Helleland became the first member of WADA's senior leadership to oppose the move, "insisting the country has not yet met key demands." WADA "previously insisted Russia meet two criteria" as part of a "roadmap" for its return to compliance: accept the findings of the '15 McLaren report and "grant access to its drug-tainted Moscow laboratory." However, a compromise reportedly suggested by Reedie and Niggli to Russia's Sports Minister in June "was eventually accepted." WADA "defended the apparent softening of its position," but the revelation "sparked an outcry from various athletes and national anti-doping agencies." Helleland said in a statement, "I can see that progress is being made and I acknowledge the efforts done by Rusada, but as long as the McLaren report is not acknowledged and Wada still has no access to the laboratories, I will vote against the reinstatement of Russia" (BBC, 9/18). In London, Tom Morgan reported British former Paralympic rower Vicki Aggar and fellow members of the WADA athlete committee said in a joint statement that there should be "no discussion" about Russia's return. A WADA exec board meeting in the Seychelles on Thursday "is all-but-certain to give the all clear" to RUSADA after officials were "promised access to the Moscow laboratory" at the center of the scandal. However, a statement from Aggar and other members of WADA's global athlete committee said, "As clean athletes we are strongly against the reinstatement of Rusada until all the conditions of the road map have been met." Russia has "always" been required to accept the findings of inquiry and provide access to the thousands of samples stored in the laboratory, but "in our view none of this has happened, and therefore there should be no discussion of reinstatement," the statement said (TELEGRAPH, 9/18).
REASONABLE DOUBT: REUTERS' Frank Pingue reported the Institute of National Anti-Doping Organizations (iNADO) said that it looked forward to RUSADA’s return to compliance but added that it was "hard not to be cynical that after months of silence WADA’s compliance review committee recommended a reinstatement." iNADO said in a statement, "Any reasonable person would conclude that Russia has not yet fulfilled its obligations to the global sporting community. WADA must make its decisions based on consistent application of principles and not simply out of expedience pandering to the will of a powerful nation" (REUTERS, 9/17). RTÉ reported Sport Ireland joined its int'l counterparts in calling for RUSADA not to be reinstated until all criteria have been "satisfied in full." Sport Ireland CEO John Treacy said, "The confirmation from WADA that the organization's Compliance Review Committee will recommend the reinstatement of RUSADA at this week's WADA Executive Committee meeting is deeply worrying" (RTE, 9/18).
