World Anti-Doping Agency lifts Russia ban as crisis looms over ‘treachery’ in fight for clean sport
‘Disappointing’ decision to reinstate Russia casts a ‘dark shadow’ over fight against drugs in sport, says World Anti-Doping Agency’s own vice-president
The World Anti-Doping Agency (Wada) on Thursday lifted a ban on Russia’s anti-doping agency, paving the way for Russian athletes to return to competition but also sparking claims of “treachery” and “dark shadows” cast over the fight against drugs in sport.
“Today, the great majority of Wada’s Executive Committee decided to reinstate Rusada as compliant with the World Anti-Doping Code subject to strict conditions,” Wada president Craig Reedie said.
Reedie said the decision “provides a clear timeline by which Wada must be given access to the former Moscow laboratory data and samples”.
He said if the commitment was not met, Wada would reinstate the ban on the Russian anti-doping agency.
The decision was taken at a meeting of Wada’s Executive Committee in Victoria, capital of the Indian Ocean island of Seychelles.
The Russian government applauded the decision to lift Eusada’s three-year suspension, saying it was the result of “enormous work” by Russian authorities to improve their procedures.
