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In October 2009, IAAF general secretary Pierre Weiss wrote to [[Valentin Balakhnichev]] that blood samples from Russian athletes "recorded some of the highest values ever seen since the IAAF started testing" and that tests from the 2009 World Championships "strongly suggest a systematic abuse of blood doping or EPO-related products."<ref name=AP160112/>
In October 2009, IAAF general secretary Pierre Weiss wrote to [[Valentin Balakhnichev]] that blood samples from Russian athletes "recorded some of the highest values ever seen since the IAAF started testing" and that tests from the 2009 World Championships "strongly suggest a systematic abuse of blood doping or EPO-related products."<ref name=AP160112/>

In November 2015, France began a criminal investigation into former IAAF president [[Lamine Diack]], alleging that in 2011 he accepted a 1 million euro bribe from the [[All-Russia Athletic Federation]] to cover up positive doping results of at least six Russian athletes.<ref name=AP151104/> Russian long-distance runner [[Liliya Shobukhova]] paid $600,000 to cover up her positive doping result.<ref name=Reuters160107/> According to the BBC, emails from July 2013 show that IAAF deputy general secretary Nick Davies discussed how to delay or soften an announcement on Russians who had tested positive.<ref name=BBC151222/> In June 2016, he was provisionally suspended over allegations that he took money to delay naming Russian athletes.<ref name=BBC160610/>


== Allegations of state-sponsored doping ==
== Allegations of state-sponsored doping ==
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AFAR accepted the indefinite IAAF suspension and did not request a hearing.<ref name=GN151126-nohearing/> ARAF's efforts towards regaining full IAAF membership will be monitored by a five-person IAAF team.<ref name=BBC_monitoringteam/> On 18 November 2015 WADA suspended [[RUSADA]], meaning that Russia does not have a functioning NADO for any sport.<ref name=Newsweek151119/><ref name=GN151118/>
AFAR accepted the indefinite IAAF suspension and did not request a hearing.<ref name=GN151126-nohearing/> ARAF's efforts towards regaining full IAAF membership will be monitored by a five-person IAAF team.<ref name=BBC_monitoringteam/> On 18 November 2015 WADA suspended [[RUSADA]], meaning that Russia does not have a functioning NADO for any sport.<ref name=Newsweek151119/><ref name=GN151118/>


Two former directors of [[RUSADA]], Vyacheslav Sinyev and Nikita Kamaev, died in February 2016.<ref name=AP160221/> ''[[The Sunday Times]]'' reported that Kamaev had approached the newspaper shortly before his death planning to publish a book on "the true story of sport pharmacology and doping in Russia since 1987".<ref name=Reuters160221/> The director of a prominent laboratory, Grigory Rodchenkov, moved to the United States. According to a May 2016 report in ''[[The New York Times]]'', Rodchenkov said that doping experts collaborated with Russia's intelligence service on a state-sponsored doping programme in which urine samples were switched through a hole in the laboratory's wall.<ref name=NYT160512/> He said that at least fifteen medalists at the [[2014 Winter Olympics]] were involved.<ref name=NYT160512/> In June 2016, ARD aired a documentary implicating Russian sports minister [[Vitaly Mutko]].<ref name=GN160607/>
In January 2016, the IAAF gave lifetime bans to the former head of the Russian athletics federation, Valentin Balakhnichev, and a top Russian coach, Aleksey Melnikov.<ref name=Reuters160107/> Two former directors of [[RUSADA]], Vyacheslav Sinyev and Nikita Kamaev, died in February 2016.<ref name=AP160221/> ''[[The Sunday Times]]'' reported that Kamaev had approached the newspaper shortly before his death planning to publish a book on "the true story of sport pharmacology and doping in Russia since 1987".<ref name=Reuters160221/> The director of a prominent laboratory, Grigory Rodchenkov, moved to the United States. According to a May 2016 report in ''[[The New York Times]]'', Rodchenkov said that doping experts collaborated with Russia's intelligence service on a state-sponsored doping programme in which urine samples were switched through a hole in the laboratory's wall.<ref name=NYT160512/> He said that at least fifteen medalists at the [[2014 Winter Olympics]] were involved.<ref name=NYT160512/> In June 2016, ARD aired a documentary implicating Russian sports minister [[Vitaly Mutko]].<ref name=GN160607/>


In June 2016, WADA released a report stating that the work of its Doping Control Officers (DCO) had been limited by a "significant amount of unavailable athlete reports and missed tests", insufficient or incorrect athlete location information, and little information about the location or date of competitions. Some athletes named military cities requiring special permission to enter as their location and some national championships, including Olympic qualifiers, were held in cities with restricted access due to civil conflicts, preventing testing of the competitors.<ref name=WADA201605/> WADA also reported intimidation of DCOs by armed [[Federal Security Service]] (FSB) agents; "significant delays" before being allowed to enter venues; consistent monitoring by security staff; delays in receiving athlete lists; and opening of sample packages by Russian customs.<ref name=WADA201605/> 90% of Russian athletes did not respond or "emphatically" refused when WADA requested to interview them as part of its investigation.<ref name=AP160616/> Director general [[David Howman]] stated, "It was the very right time for those who considered themselves clean [to approach WADA]. They had nine months, plenty of time, and none came forward."<ref name=AP160616/>
In June 2016, WADA released a report stating that the work of its Doping Control Officers (DCO) had been limited by a "significant amount of unavailable athlete reports and missed tests", insufficient or incorrect athlete location information, and little information about the location or date of competitions. Some athletes named military cities requiring special permission to enter as their location and some national championships, including Olympic qualifiers, were held in cities with restricted access due to civil conflicts, preventing testing of the competitors.<ref name=WADA201605/> WADA also reported intimidation of DCOs by armed [[Federal Security Service]] (FSB) agents; "significant delays" before being allowed to enter venues; consistent monitoring by security staff; delays in receiving athlete lists; and opening of sample packages by Russian customs.<ref name=WADA201605/> 90% of Russian athletes did not respond or "emphatically" refused when WADA requested to interview them as part of its investigation.<ref name=AP160616/> Director general [[David Howman]] stated, "It was the very right time for those who considered themselves clean [to approach WADA]. They had nine months, plenty of time, and none came forward."<ref name=AP160616/>
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<ref name=GN150114>{{cite web|url=http://www.theguardian.com/sport/2015/jan/14/elena-lashmanova-iaaf-investigating-race-ban|title=IAAF investigating Russian Olympic gold medallist Elena Lashmanova|work=the Guardian}}</ref>
<ref name=GN150114>{{cite web|url=http://www.theguardian.com/sport/2015/jan/14/elena-lashmanova-iaaf-investigating-race-ban|title=IAAF investigating Russian Olympic gold medallist Elena Lashmanova|work=the Guardian}}</ref>

<ref name=AP151104>{{cite web |url= http://www.si.com/2015/11/04/ap-ath-iaaf-diack-investigated |title= Prosecutors: Former IAAF president Diack under investigation |work=[[Associated Press]] |publisher= Sports Illustrated |date=4 November 2015 }}</ref>


<ref name=WADA151109>{{cite web|title=Independent Commission – Report 1|url=https://www.wada-ama.org/en/resources/world-anti-doping-program/independent-commission-report-1|publisher=[[World Anti-Doping Agency]]|accessdate=9 November 2015|date=9 November 2015}}</ref>
<ref name=WADA151109>{{cite web|title=Independent Commission – Report 1|url=https://www.wada-ama.org/en/resources/world-anti-doping-program/independent-commission-report-1|publisher=[[World Anti-Doping Agency]]|accessdate=9 November 2015|date=9 November 2015}}</ref>
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<ref name=BBC_monitoringteam>{{cite news|title=Athletics doping: IAAF names team to inspect Russian reforms|url=http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/athletics/34842387|accessdate=17 November 2015|work=BBC|date=17 November 2015}}</ref>
<ref name=BBC_monitoringteam>{{cite news|title=Athletics doping: IAAF names team to inspect Russian reforms|url=http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/athletics/34842387|accessdate=17 November 2015|work=BBC|date=17 November 2015}}</ref>

<ref name=BBC151222>{{cite news |url= http://www.bbc.com/sport/athletics/35126635 |title= Athletics doping crisis: Secret plan to delay naming Russian cheats |first= Dan |last= Roan |first2= Patrick |last2= Nathanson |work= BBC News |date= 22 December 2015 }}</ref>

<ref name=Reuters160107>{{cite news |url= http://www.reuters.com/article/us-athletics-corruption-idUSKBN0UL1EI20160107 |title= Former top officials get life bans for doping blackmail |first= Mitch |last= Phillips |work= Reuters |date= 7 January 2016 }}</ref>


<ref name=AP160112>{{cite news |url= http://www.cbc.ca/sports/olympics/summer/trackandfield/iaaf-explored-ways-to-cover-up-russian-doping-1.3400476 |title=IAAF knew of Russians' rampant doping years before ban: report |first= John |last= Leicester |work= [[Associated Press]] |publisher= CBC Sports |date= 12 January 2016 }}</ref>
<ref name=AP160112>{{cite news |url= http://www.cbc.ca/sports/olympics/summer/trackandfield/iaaf-explored-ways-to-cover-up-russian-doping-1.3400476 |title=IAAF knew of Russians' rampant doping years before ban: report |first= John |last= Leicester |work= [[Associated Press]] |publisher= CBC Sports |date= 12 January 2016 }}</ref>
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<ref name=GN160614>{{cite news |url= https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2016/jun/14/athletes-letter-doping-wada-ioc-russia-decision |title= Athletes ‘have lost faith’ in IOC and Wada over Russia failures |first= Sean |last= Ingle |work= The Guardian |date= 14 June 2016 }}</ref>
<ref name=GN160614>{{cite news |url= https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2016/jun/14/athletes-letter-doping-wada-ioc-russia-decision |title= Athletes ‘have lost faith’ in IOC and Wada over Russia failures |first= Sean |last= Ingle |work= The Guardian |date= 14 June 2016 }}</ref>


<ref name=AP160616>{{cite news |url= http://bigstory.ap.org/article/a3dda59d61c44164b8f09dbb0e4d5238/anti-doping-leader-has-no-sympathy-unhelpful-russians |title= Anti-doping leader has no sympathy for unhelpful Russians |first= Eddie |last= Pells |work= [[Associated Press]] |date= 16 June 2016 }}</ref>
<ref name=AP160616>{{cite news |url= http://bigstory.ap.org/article/a3dda59d61c44164b8f09dbb0e4d5238/anti-doping-leader-has-no-sympathy-unhelpful-russians |title= Anti-doping leader has no sympathy for unhelpful Russians |first= Eddie |last= Pells |work= [[Associated Press]] |date= 16 June 2016 }}</ref>

<ref name=BBC160610>{{cite news |url= http://www.bbc.com/sport/athletics/36497906 |title= IAAF: Nick Davies one of three officials provisionally suspended in ethics case |work= BBC News |date= 10 June 2016 }}</ref>


}}
}}

Revision as of 10:55, 17 June 2016

Part of a series on
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There have been allegations of doping in Russian sports. Media attention grew significantly after December 2014, when German broadcaster ARD reported on state-sponsored doping in Russia, comparing it to doping in East Germany. WADA published a report in November 2015 which was highly critical of RUSADA and the All-Russia Athletic Federation (ARAF).[1][2]

Doping issues

In 2008, seven Russian track and field athletes were suspended ahead of the Summer Olympics in Beijing for manipulating their urine samples. The president of the International Biathlon Union, Anders Besseberg, said, "We are facing systematic doping on a large scale in one of the strongest teams of the world."[3]

Reviewing 7289 blood samples from 2737 athletes from 2001 to 2009, a report found that the number of suspicious samples from "Country A" notably exceeded other countries.[4] One of the authors said that Country A was Russia.[3]

In October 2009, IAAF general secretary Pierre Weiss wrote to Valentin Balakhnichev that blood samples from Russian athletes "recorded some of the highest values ever seen since the IAAF started testing" and that tests from the 2009 World Championships "strongly suggest a systematic abuse of blood doping or EPO-related products."[5]

In November 2015, France began a criminal investigation into former IAAF president Lamine Diack, alleging that in 2011 he accepted a 1 million euro bribe from the All-Russia Athletic Federation to cover up positive doping results of at least six Russian athletes.[6] Russian long-distance runner Liliya Shobukhova paid $600,000 to cover up her positive doping result.[7] According to the BBC, emails from July 2013 show that IAAF deputy general secretary Nick Davies discussed how to delay or soften an announcement on Russians who had tested positive.[8] In June 2016, he was provisionally suspended over allegations that he took money to delay naming Russian athletes.[9]

Allegations of state-sponsored doping

In 2010, a worker at RUSADA, Vitaly Stepanov, began sending information to the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) alleging that RUSADA was enabling systemic doping in athletics.[10][11] He said that he sent 200 emails and 50 letters over three years.[12] In December 2012, Darya Pishchalnikova sent an email to WADA containing details on an alleged state-run doping program in Russia. According to The New York Times, the email reached three top WADA officials but the agency decided not to open an inquiry and instead sent her email to Russian sports officials.[3]

According to Stepanov, "Even at WADA there were people who didn't want this story out" but he said that a person at the organisation connected him with the German broadcaster ARD.[10] In December 2014, ARD aired a documentary by Hajo Seppelt – Geheimsache Doping: Wie Russland seine Sieger macht (The Doping Secret: How Russia Creates Champions). The documentary alleged Russian state involvement in systematic doping, which it described as "East German-style".[13] Then-ARAF President Valentin Balakhnichev subsequently resigned as treasurer of the International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF).[14]

Later reports

In response to the ARD documentary, WADA commissioned an investigation, the report of which was published on 9 November 2015. The 323-page document, described as "damning" by The Guardian,[2] reported widespread doping and large-scale cover-ups by the Russian authorities. It recommended that ARAF be declared non-compliant with respect to the World Anti-Doping Code, and recommended that the International Olympic Committee not accept any entries from ARAF until compliance was reached.[15][16] On 13 November, the IAAF council voted 22–1 in favour of prohibiting Russia from world sports events with immediate effect.[17] Under other penalties against the ARAF, Russia has been also prohibited from hosting the 2016 World Race Walking Team Championships (Cheboksary) and 2016 World Junior Championships (Kazan), and ARAF must entrust doping cases to Court of Arbitration for Sport.[17]

AFAR accepted the indefinite IAAF suspension and did not request a hearing.[18] ARAF's efforts towards regaining full IAAF membership will be monitored by a five-person IAAF team.[19] On 18 November 2015 WADA suspended RUSADA, meaning that Russia does not have a functioning NADO for any sport.[20][21]

In January 2016, the IAAF gave lifetime bans to the former head of the Russian athletics federation, Valentin Balakhnichev, and a top Russian coach, Aleksey Melnikov.[7] Two former directors of RUSADA, Vyacheslav Sinyev and Nikita Kamaev, died in February 2016.[22] The Sunday Times reported that Kamaev had approached the newspaper shortly before his death planning to publish a book on "the true story of sport pharmacology and doping in Russia since 1987".[23] The director of a prominent laboratory, Grigory Rodchenkov, moved to the United States. According to a May 2016 report in The New York Times, Rodchenkov said that doping experts collaborated with Russia's intelligence service on a state-sponsored doping programme in which urine samples were switched through a hole in the laboratory's wall.[24] He said that at least fifteen medalists at the 2014 Winter Olympics were involved.[24] In June 2016, ARD aired a documentary implicating Russian sports minister Vitaly Mutko.[25]

In June 2016, WADA released a report stating that the work of its Doping Control Officers (DCO) had been limited by a "significant amount of unavailable athlete reports and missed tests", insufficient or incorrect athlete location information, and little information about the location or date of competitions. Some athletes named military cities requiring special permission to enter as their location and some national championships, including Olympic qualifiers, were held in cities with restricted access due to civil conflicts, preventing testing of the competitors.[26] WADA also reported intimidation of DCOs by armed Federal Security Service (FSB) agents; "significant delays" before being allowed to enter venues; consistent monitoring by security staff; delays in receiving athlete lists; and opening of sample packages by Russian customs.[26] 90% of Russian athletes did not respond or "emphatically" refused when WADA requested to interview them as part of its investigation.[27] Director general David Howman stated, "It was the very right time for those who considered themselves clean [to approach WADA]. They had nine months, plenty of time, and none came forward."[27]

Reactions

The Russian media has criticised Vitaly Stepanov and his wife, Yulia Stepanova (née Rusanova). Stepanova said, "All the news stories call me a traitor and not just traitor but a traitor to the Motherland."[10] Stepanov said, "I wasn't trying to expose Russia, I was trying to expose corrupt sports officials that are completely messing up competitions not just inside the country but globally."[11]

Some athletes from other countries have criticised WADA, alleging that the agency has been reluctant to investigate Russia despite multiple tips over several years.[3] WADA officials stated that the agency lacked the authority to carry out its own investigations until 2015.[12][28] Arne Ljungqvist, WADA's former vice chairman, commented that "WADA always had an excuse as to why they wouldn't move forward. They expected Russia to clean up themselves."[3]

In June 2016, The Guardian reported that a letter approved by over twenty athletes' groups from multiple sports and countries as well as the chairs of the IOC's and WADA's athletes committees, Claudia Bokel and Beckie Scott, had been sent to IOC president Thomas Bach and WADA head Craig Reedie; the letter criticised the organisations for inaction and silence until the media became involved and said that athlete confidence in the anti-doping system had been "shattered".[29]

Other controversies

See also: Meldonium

References

  1. ^ "Ban All Russian Track Athletes: World Anti-Doping Agency Panel". NBC. 9 November 2015. Retrieved 9 November 2015.
  2. ^ a b Gibson, Owen (9 November 2015). "Russia accused of 'state-sponsored doping' as Wada calls for athletics ban". Guardian. Retrieved 9 November 2015.
  3. ^ a b c d e Ruiz, Rebecca R.; Macur, Juliet; Austen, Ian (15 June 2016). "Even With Confession of Cheating, World's Doping Watchdog Did Nothing". The New York Times.
  4. ^ "Prevalence of Blood Doping in Samples Collected From Elite Track and Field Athletes". May 2011.
  5. ^ Leicester, John (12 January 2016). "IAAF knew of Russians' rampant doping years before ban: report". Associated Press. CBC Sports.
  6. ^ "Prosecutors: Former IAAF president Diack under investigation". Associated Press. Sports Illustrated. 4 November 2015.
  7. ^ a b Phillips, Mitch (7 January 2016). "Former top officials get life bans for doping blackmail". Reuters.
  8. ^ Roan, Dan; Nathanson, Patrick (22 December 2015). "Athletics doping crisis: Secret plan to delay naming Russian cheats". BBC News.
  9. ^ "IAAF: Nick Davies one of three officials provisionally suspended in ethics case". BBC News. 10 June 2016.
  10. ^ a b c Schwartz, Daniel (13 January 2016). "Whistleblowers Yuliya and Vitaly Stepanov describe Russia's sports doping system". CBC News.
  11. ^ a b Cherry, Gene (10 May 2016). "Whistleblower nearly aborted efforts to expose Russian doping". Reuters.
  12. ^ a b Pells, Eddie (8 May 2016). "60 Minutes: WADA received 200 emails from whistleblower about Russian doping scandal". Associated Press. CBC News.
  13. ^ Olterman, Philip (3 December 2014). "Russia accused of athletics doping cover-up on German TV". Guardian. Retrieved 9 November 2015.
  14. ^ "IAAF investigating Russian Olympic gold medallist Elena Lashmanova". the Guardian.
  15. ^ "Independent Commission – Report 1". World Anti-Doping Agency. 9 November 2015. Retrieved 9 November 2015.
  16. ^ "Athletics doping: Wada commission recommends Russia suspension". BBC. 9 November 2015. Retrieved 9 November 2015.
  17. ^ a b "IAAF provisionally suspends Russian Member Federation ARAF". iaaf.org. 13 November 2015.
  18. ^ "Russia accepts full, indefinite ban from world athletics over doping scandal". The Guardian. 26 November 2015. Retrieved 26 November 2015.
  19. ^ "Athletics doping: IAAF names team to inspect Russian reforms". BBC. 17 November 2015. Retrieved 17 November 2015.
  20. ^ Faloyin, Dipo (19 November 2015). "WADA Suspends Russia's Anti-Doping Agency". Newsweek. Retrieved 20 November 2015.
  21. ^ Ingle, Sean (18 November 2015). "Russian Anti-Doping Agency suspended by Wada for non-compliance". Guardian. Retrieved 20 November 2015.
  22. ^ Ellingworth, James (21 February 2016). "Nikita Kamaev, leading Russian anti-doping official, was planning on writing a book before sudden death". Associated Press. CBC News.
  23. ^ "Late Russian anti-doping agency boss was set to expose true story: report". Reuters. 21 February 2016.
  24. ^ a b Ruiz, Rebecca R.; Schwirtz, Michael (12 May 2016). "Russian Insider Says State-Run Doping Fueled Olympic Gold". The New York Times.
  25. ^ Gibson, Owen (7 June 2016). "Russian sports minister Vitaly Mutko implicated in latest doping allegations". The Guardian.
  26. ^ a b "Update on the status of Russia testing" (PDF). WADA. June 2016.
  27. ^ a b Pells, Eddie (16 June 2016). "Anti-doping leader has no sympathy for unhelpful Russians". Associated Press.
  28. ^ Gibson, Owen (1 June 2016). "New doping report will influence decision on Russia's place at Olympics". The Guardian.
  29. ^ Ingle, Sean (14 June 2016). "Athletes 'have lost faith' in IOC and Wada over Russia failures". The Guardian.
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