WADA Issues Recommendations; Wants Russia Banned from Rio

This morning the independent McLaren Report confirmed systematic doping in Russia. The World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) “acknowledged” the report early this morning and later held a press conference and issued a statement to address the findings.

WADA’s Executive Committee made seven “key recommendations” while acknowledging that the Agency does not have the power to make changes. It encouraged organizations to take action where they have that ability.

The first recommendation is to deny Russia participation in the 2016 Games.

It was also requested that Russian government officials be excluded from all international competitions. Additionally, WADA asked FIFA to investigate as well.

The full list of recommendations state:

“The WADA Executive Committee’s key recommendations based on the McLaren Investigation Report are set out below. The necessary decisions should be taken by the relevant organizations based on their own rules and regulations.

The International Olympic Committee (IOC) and the International Paralympic Committee (IPC) to consider, under their respective Charters, to decline entries, for Rio 2016, of all athletes submitted by the Russian Olympic Committee (ROC) and the Russian Paralympic Committee.
The International Federations (IFs) from sports implicated in the McLaren Report to consider their responsibilities under the World Anti-Doping Code (Code) as far as their Russian National Federations (NFs) are concerned.
Russian government officials to be denied access to international competitions, including Rio 2016.
The Russian National Anti-Doping Agency (RUSADA) to remain non-compliant under the Code and its staffing and independence to be further reviewed by WADA.
The accreditation process of the WADA-accredited laboratory in Moscow (Moscow laboratory) to be stopped.
The FIFA Ethics Committee to look into allegations concerning football and the role played by a member of its Executive Committee, Minister Vitaly Mutko.
Professor McLaren and his team to complete their mandate provided WADA can secure the funding that would be required.”

Read the full statement here.

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