An outline of WADA’s investigative approach regarding recent doping allegations in relation to the 2014 Sochi Olympics was released yesterday. The allegations were published by CBS’ 60 Minutes on May 8 and by The New York Times on May 12.
Both news pieces feature allegations of the Russian athletes at the Sochi Games doping, and The New York Times article claims that at least 15 Russian medal winners were involved in a state-run doping program according to the director of the country’s anti-doping lab at the time, Dr. Grigory Rodchenkov.
“WADA is fully committed to investigating these additional allegations that were exposed by 60 Minutes and The New York Times; and, to publicly reporting its findings,” said Craig Reedie, President of WADA. “WADA has tackled this investigative work as a matter of priority for clean sport,” Reedie continued. “Today, we are outlining our approach and what can be expected by stakeholders going forward.”
According to the two articles, Dr. Rodchenkov revealed that urine samples were manipulated during the Sochi Games by Russia’s Federal Security Service (FSB), which in turn allowed athletes who were doping to avoid being caught. Although there is no current evidence to suggest that the allegations extend to the Moscow laboratory, WADA will also investigate these labs in case they were also involved.
Yesterday, the International Olympic Committee (IOC) “requested WADA to initiate a fully-fledged investigation into allegations that testing at the Sochi Laboratory was subverted. The IOC for its part will instruct the Lausanne Anti-Doping Laboratory, where the Sochi samples are stored for ten years, to proceed in cooperation with WADA with their analysis in the most sophisticated and efficient way possible. Also, the IOC has already requested the Russian Olympic Committee to undertake all efforts to ensure the full cooperation of the Russian side in the WADA investigation. The IOC has put its Medical and Scientific Director, who himself is an Olympic Champion, at the disposal of the WADA investigation. Based on the result of this investigation the IOC will take swift action.”
The Investigation Team will be headed by WADA’s Investigations Manager, Mathieu Holz, a former Major of the French Gendarmerie and INTERPOL Agent. Holz has requested a fifteen hour Skype recording between Vitay Stepanov and Dr. Rodchenkov containing possible evidence, but has not received an answer from Mr. Stepanov.
