EA President Svein Arne Hansen calls WADA decision to reinstate RUSADA as ""a backward step."

Svein Arne Hansen, European Athletics, photo by European Athletics

Statement of EA President

LAUSANNE (SUI): European Athletics President Svein Arne Hansen has described the decision to reinstate the Russian Anti-Doping Agency as "a backward step." He said in a statement: "The decision, following a compromise on the conditions of the Roadmap for reinstatement originally set out by WADA, was presumably meant to move the situation forward but appears instead to be a backward step. It creates unclarity about the enforcement of the regulations and policies accepted by the sport movement around the world at a time when adherence to principle and strong leadership are very much needed." Hansen added: "We have confidence in the Athletics Integrity Unit and the Independent Task Force, chaired by Rune Andersen, and expect the IAAF Council will not change the status of RusAF until the Task Force indicates that appropriate progress has been made."