Russian athletes are unlikely to see their suspension from international competition lifted when the International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF) council meet to discuss the athletics powerhouse’s ongoing bid to eradicate doping.
The Russian track and field federation (ARAF) was suspended by the IAAF in November last year after the latter acted on a sensational report by an independent commission of the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) that found evidence of state-sponsored doping and large-scale corruption in Russian athletics.
The two-day IAAF Council meeting yesterday and today is being presided over by British two-time Olympic 1,500m gold medalist Sebastian Coe, who has found himself at the center of unprecedented attention since taking over the presidency from the now-disgraced Lamine Diack.
Photo: AP
However, there is little prospect of an easy way back into the international fold for Russian athletes, increasing the likelihood they might miss the Olympics in Rio de Janeiro in August.
Dick Pound, coauthor of the initial damning WADA report into Russian doping that prompted the ban, on Wednesday said that there was still “a wall of denial” within Russian athletics and its federation was not doing enough to prove it was ready to take part in Rio.
Speaking at the Tackling Doping in Sport conference in London, Pound said: “Even with the presence of credible evidence, there was, and to some extent there still is, a wall of denial.”
“Russia, in the sport of athletics, is on the outside trying to get back in,” he said. “The onus is on it to justify any readmission.”
“It is also clear that opinion is divided on the matter of readmission. The Russians seem to assume that the controversy will disappear and there should be no question regarding their participation in Rio. No question,” he said. “In other parts of the sporting world there is great resistance to any fast-track solution.”
“It is a considerable hurdle for them and if the two organizations [WADA and IAAF] are not satisfied that the clean competitors of the Games are protected, then my guess is that they may not make it back for Rio,” he added.
Pound’s words followed another explosive documentary by German broadcaster ARD detailing continued violations by Russia’s athletics program.
Entitled Doping Top Secret: Russia’s Red Herrings, the ARD program contained new allegations suggesting malpractice by several people in the Russian anti-doping system and alleges someone from the Russian Anti-Doping Agency (RUSADA) gave advance warning to athletes of testing plans.
“At a time when trust in sport is wafer thin, these troubling assertions will do little to reinforce confidence in the Russian anti-doping system when clean athletes need it most,” WADA president Craig Reedie said. “The allegations suggest that there is still much, much work to be done in Russia and that we will need the full and unwavering cooperation of the Russian authorities to reverse the damage. Until this happens, clean athletes won’t be able to trust that there is a level playing field.”
“I will not hesitate to act swiftly to ensure that any breaches to the code are dealt with firmly and expeditiously,” Reedie said. “Strong and decisive action by all sporting authorities is imperative if clean athletes, and indeed the public at large, are to retain belief in the integrity of sport.”
Russian Minister of Sports Vitaly Mutko was quick to shrug off blame attributed in the ARD documentary, saying that “to talk about the responsibility of the state in the case of every individual violation is impossible.”
“If people are guilty then they will be punished in accordance with the rules,” Mutko said.
The council, on whose behalf Coe is to address the media today, could also examine the case of Kenya, the east African track power that has seen about 40 athletes caught up in drug scandals over the past three years and federation supremo Isaac Mwangin suspended for corruption involving cover-ups.
Reedie has informed Kenyan athletics officials that they must conform to doping guidelines before April 5 or face their athletes being banned for the Rio Olympics.
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