NADOs call for Russia to be 'banned' until anti-doping system in place
Last Updated: 11/01/17 11:28am
The heads of 19 National Anti-Doping Organisations (NADOs) have called for 2018 World Cup hosts Russia to be banned from all sporting activity until a proper anti-doping system is in place.
In a statement released following a meeting in Dublin, they called on the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) to take over the investigation into the 1,000 Russian athletes said to have been part of a state-sponsored doping system exposed by the report produced by Canadian law professor, Richard McLaren.
At present, this investigation is under the control of the International Olympic Committee (IOC).
They believe WADA should also have the power to investigate sports federations.
The United States, Japan, France and Germany were among the countries attending the meeting in Ireland and concede that Russian athletes should be allowed to compete as neutrals if they have undergone intensive doping controls.
A joint-statement reads: "With the best interests of clean athletes at heart, it is our hope that these proposals will help sport move past these dark times and pave a path towards a brighter future, one where the promise of clean competition is fulfilled.
"But in order to do so, steps must be taken, and it is imperative that those responsible for Russia's state-supported system are held accountable.
"It calls for a truly independent anti-doping model, so those athletes affected by this abhorrent behaviour are given back at least some of what was taken from them.
"Lastly, with many international federations now facing extensive evidence of doping and cover-ups following the publication of McLaren's efforts, the NADO leaders look to WADA, the global regulator, to monitor and act …….to ensure evidence is investigated and appropriate consequences are applied."
The Russian government has denied that any such state-sponsored system was in place.
Travis Tygart, head of the US Anti-Doping Agency, said: "We continue to hear from athletes across the group (of NADO countries) whose concerns have not been addressed.
"So we are reigniting our urgency to hold Russia to account in order to give confidence."
