by Larry EderThis was a tumultuous morning for our sport. The Independent commission, lead by Dick Pound for WADA, has recommended that the Russian Athletic Federation needs to be rebuilt. The systematic deception, the systematic doping, and how it has, in effect, stolen money and medals from other athletes and countries will fill the pages of the media for years to come.
The blame game has begun, and the former IAAF leadership, those not in jail, will be asked how such cheating and extortion could be held on their watch. Anyone involved with the IAAF will be blamed. The current criminal investigations suggest that some will be spending time incarcerated over the level of extortion of our sport.
The following note quickly followed the end of the WADA press conference today. The IAAF has asked its members to review the WADA Independent Commission Report in an expedited fashion. Seb Coe, the President of the IAAF, has asked the Russian Federation to respond to the allegations by Friday.
Stay tuned.
IAAF STATEMENT – WADA’S INDEPENDENT COMMISSION REPORT |
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© IAAF |
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In response to WADA’s Independent Commission report issued today, the IAAF President, Sebastian Coe, has taken the urgent step of seeking approval from his fellow IAAF Council Members to consider sanctions against the Russian Athletics Federation (ARAF). These sanctions could include provisional and full suspension and the removal of future IAAF events. Commenting on the report, the IAAF President said: “The information in WADA’s Independent Commissions Report is alarming. We need time to properly digest and understand the detailed findings included in the report. However, I have urged the Council to start the process of considering sanctions against ARAF. This step has not been taken lightly. Our athletes, partners and fans have my total assurance that where there are failures in our governance or our anti-doping programmes we will fix them. We will do whatever it takes to protect the clean athletes and rebuild trust in our sport. The IAAF will continue to offer the police authorities our full co-operation into their ongoing investigation. IAAF – Member Federation suspension and other sanction process– IAAF Council to decide whether to proceed with a potential sanctions’ process against a Member Federation. – The Member Federation is asked to respond to the allegations and proposed sanctions. – IAAF Council to consider the Member Federation response as soon as possible and make a decision on next steps. IAAF |
