Russia on Tuesday rejected explosive accusations of doping and corruption and promised a rapid response to avoid suspension from the 2016 Olympics due to the scandal that threatens to spread far beyond the borders of Russia and athletics.
“Until any proof has been put forward it is hard to accept any accusations as they seem rather groundless,” Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov stated.
As pressure mounted on Russia for answers, the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) took the first concrete measure since Monday’s damning report from its independent commission by suspending Moscow’s heavily-criticised anti-doping laboratory.
Athletics was rocked by an avalanche of allegations including accusations of Russian “state-sponsored” doping contained in the 335-page findings.
IAAF president Sebastian Coe has given the Russian athletics federation (ARAF) “until the end of the week” to respond or risk possible suspension.
Despite the Kremlin’s dismissive reaction, ARAF assured Coe that it would contact the IAAF “in the very near future” outlining its anti-doping programme and “its reaction to the deductions and conclusions” in WADA’s report.
Calls for Russia, fourth in the 2012 London Olympics medal table, to be banned from next year’s Olympic Games are growing.
UK Athletics chief Ed Warner told BBC Radio 4: “Lord Coe… says that his (IAAF) council is meeting on Friday or Saturday to consider sanctioning Russia and possibly to suspend them. My strong advice would be: you’ve absolutely got to do that.”
– True Olympic spirit –
That view was echoed by Australia’s national Olympic Committee.
“We would very much support Russian track and field athletes not being allowed to compete in Rio if their federation is not code-compliant to WADA,” the 2016 Australian Olympic team’s chef de mission Kitty Chiller said in Sydney.
“If Russia is not in Rio, I think the reputation of athletics will be enhanced because the public will know every athlete competing is clean and is competing in the true spirit of the Olympic Games.”
The crisis engulfing the sport long-viewed as the flagship of the Olympic Games comes hot on the heels of FIFA’s own corruption turmoil.
Worryingly according to WADA, the athletics scandal is by no means confined to Russia nor athletics.
“Russia is not the only country, nor athletics the only sport, facing the problem of orchestrated doping in sport,” the report, triggered by German broadcaster ARD’s documentary last December, warned.
WADA’s independent commission chairman Dick Pound added: “We certainly do not think that Russia is the only country with a doping problem and we don’t think athletics is the only sport with a doping problem.
“It seems pretty clear from both the ARD programme and subsequent developments that Kenya has a real problem. It’s been very slow to acknowledge that there is a problem.”
– State-run frauds –
“If they don’t do a good job (investigating doping) then I think somebody else will do a job for them.”
According to several anti-doping specialists, the risk of abuse is especially high in countries in the grip of strong-arm rulers.
“Frauds like this can only be State-run with secret service involvement,” a specialist who wished to remain anonymous told AFP.
ARD’s documentary claimed that a third of the 146 world and Olympic medals awarded between 2001 and the 2012 London Olympics, featuring 18 Kenyans, were tainted by suspicions of doping.
– Suspect samples –
And of 5,000 athletes of various nationalities tested during this period, 800 returned suspect samples, according to ARD.
Russian former athlete and doping whistleblower Yulia Stepanova told ARD in comments included in WADA’s report: “There were swimmers, coaches and athletes from other sports, long distance skiers…”
Among its other recommendations, the WADA report called for five Russian athletes — including 800m Olympic winner Mariya Savinova — to be given lifetime bans, suggesting the presence of doped athletes had “sabotaged” the 2012 Games in London.
WADA meanwhile confirmed the provisional closure of the Moscow laboratory in the eye of the doping storm.
Pound’s report revealed that the laboratory’s director had ordered close to 1,500 samples to be deliberately destroyed.
WADA said it will set up a disciplinary committee to review the case and review the centre’s accreditation status following its suspension.
The suspension was described as “utter nonsense” by Russian anti-doping agency (RUSADA) director Nikita Kamayev.
He insisted that the agency worked “in full compliance” with WADA guidelines and said it would be sending its response to the accusations by November 18.
“Some people are stuck in the epoch of James Bond,” Kamayev told a press conference.
Contrary to some expectations, Pound’s report did not address allegations of IAAF officials receiving bribes to cover up positive tests for athletes, including potential medal winners from past Olympic games.
Former president Lamine Diack was among three officials charged last week with corruption.
Pound said further evidence of misconduct, including among potentially “rogue” individuals within the IAAF, is expected by the end of the year.