{"id":122689,"date":"2015-02-10T09:47:00","date_gmt":"2015-02-10T16:47:00","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.swimmingworldmagazine.com\/news\/?p=122689"},"modified":"2015-02-11T08:44:39","modified_gmt":"2015-02-11T15:44:39","slug":"john-leonard-calls-fina-executive-director-asking-updates-russia-doping-scandal","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.swimmingworldmagazine.com\/news\/john-leonard-calls-fina-executive-director-asking-updates-russia-doping-scandal\/","title":{"rendered":"John Leonard Calls Out FINA Executive Director Asking For Updates on Russia Doping Scandal"},"content":{"rendered":"

Open Letter from John Leonard, Executive Director for the World Swim Coaches Association and the American Swim Coaches Association about the Russia Doping Scandal<\/em><\/p>\n

Feb. 10, 2014 <\/p>\n

Dear Cornel Marculescu,<\/p>\n

I trust this note finds you well. I have a couple of questions for you, please <\/p>\n

I would ASK if you have seen the video from the German television program \u201cDoping Scandal in Russia-2014\u201d? If not, you can find it on YouTube under that title. There are four parts, each more disturbing than the one before. In the 2nd part of 4, at the 4:02 mark of the program, it is stated that \u201cSwimming Coaches are Present in the office of the lead doping office of the Russian Doping leader\u201d. <\/p>\n

At 8:48 in the video, It is stated that \u201cSWIMMING ATHLETES ARE NOT BEING TESTED\u201d and that only insignificant athletes are tested positive, while the stars and those who are young and promising, are simply noted as \u201cmistakes\u201d in the testing, and not punished for doping.
\nLater, at 11:42 in the video, a document signed by Vladimir Putin is shown, which says that no doping samples may cross the Russian border in either direction and will be opened at the Border. (Thus negating the samples for all time.) <\/p>\n

When taken as a whole, the program completely and thoroughly discredits RUSADA, the Russian Anti-Doping agency. Nothing that they do can ever be considered correct and proper and honest again. They are clearly complicit in the doping of Russian athletes as an industry providing bribes to RUSADA individuals.
\nHOW THEN, CAN THE FINA WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS IN RUSSIA THIS SUMMER, BE A LEGITIMATE COMPETITION? I know FINA is dedicated to anti-doping and there must be a plan that you have to make sure doping sample analysis can be carried out honestly and openly. But if SAMPLES CANNOT BE SENT OUT OF THE COUNTRY per Mr. Putin, and RUSADA is corrupt and entirely discredited, how will FINA assure clean athletes that this will not be the most doped World Championships in History?
\nIt appears to myself and many others, that the legitimacy of the FINA World Championships this summer is at great risk. <\/p>\n

I would ask you to inform the world what is being done to make sure we have the cleanest possible competition? Right now, we appear to be without hope. Please inform everyone what the plan is for a clean competition with proper testing of samples. <\/p>\n

Respectfully, John Leonard
\nAmerican Swimming Coaches Association Executive Director
\nWorld Swimming Coaches Association Executive Director. <\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Read More about the Russian Doping Crisis<\/a><\/p>\n

Response from Cornel Marculescu<\/h2>\n

FINA Reply<\/a><\/p>\n