Montreal: World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) president Craig Reedie said Thursday that the body could lift its suspension of Russia’s drug-testing authority later this year after nearly two years on the blacklist.
The Russian anti-doping agency (RUSADA) has been suspended since 2015 in the wake of the report by Richard McLaren which uncovered widespread doping in Russian sport.
Reedie however said RUSADA had taken concrete steps to clean up its image and could resume testing next month based on compliance criteria requested by WADA.
“There is a huge amount of work being done,” Reedie told a press conference following WADA’s foundation board meeting here.
“The board decided if we receive, and I’m sure we will, the necessary information … that the Russian anti-doping agency would be able to resume its testing programme,” Reedie added.
Russia’s commitment to comply with WADA’s demanded improvements was called into question by the appointment of former pole vault star Yelena Isinbayeva as head of the supervisory board of RUSADA last December. She had been sharply critical of the McLaren report, claiming it unfairly targeted Russia in what she described as a ‘political act’.
Reedie without naming the former Olympic and World record holder told reporters that very soon she would be removed from her position. “As of now, I have got to know that the person critical about our conditions will be gone by May 31,” Reedie informed.
“What has been done at this stage is really important and I am grateful to the foundation board for providing, subject to Russia’s roadmap, its green light for the resumption of the testing program. Hopefully RUSADA could resume its work in early June,” he added.
AFP
