After the release of their Independent Commission Report, WADA has taken action to immediately suspend the Moscow Laboratory. WADA has the power to immediately suspend a laboratory’s accreditation when they have a justified reason to believe it is necessary to protect the interest of the Anti-Doping Community.
You can read more about today’s WADA Independent Report here and some more swimming-centric analysis here.
This new ruling from WADA prevents the Moscow Laboratory from carrying out any WADA-related anti-doping activities including all analyses of urine and blood samples.
In the meantime, all samples for the Moscow Antidoping Center will now be transported securely and with a demonstrable chain of custody to an alternative WADA-accredited laboratory. A disciplinary committee will be formed to to review the case, on the basis of the Procedural Rules adopted by the WADA Executive Committee, and then make a recommendation for the laboratory’s accreditation status.
The samples currently on site at the Moscow laboratory likely include all of the samples from the 2015 FINA World Championships, although that is purely speculation.
“WADA has acted swiftly to one of the key recommendations made by the Independent Commission in its Report,” said WADA President, Sir Craig Reedie. “The Moscow Laboratory is provisionally suspended, and the status of the laboratory’s accreditation beyond that will be decided by a Disciplinary Committee which will be formed shortly to review the case.”
The Moscow Anti-Doping Center has 21 days to file an appeal to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS).
DECISION
1. The accreditation of the Moscow Antidoping Center is provisionally suspended with immediate effect.
2. This provisional suspension shall remain in effect until the earlier of:
2.1 6 months from the notification of this decision.
2.2 Decision of the Chairman of the WADA Executive Committee or of the WADA Executive Committee upon possible suspension or revocation of the WADA accreditation of the Moscow Antidoping Center, on the basis of the recommendation to be issued by the Disciplinary Committee for the International Standard for Laboratories.
3. In the interim, samples analysed by the Moscow Antidoping Center shall be transported securely, promptly and with a demonstrable chain of custody to another WADA-accredited laboratory.
4. This decision is notified to all relevant national public authorities, national accreditation bodies, national anti-doping organizations, national Olympic committees, international federations and the International Olympic Committee, as stipulated in the International Standard for Laboratories.
I have read the entire report and unfortunately, I think Dick Pound is correct that Russian track and field is the tip of the iceberg when it comes to Russian doping and doping in other countries where national pride and the culture of justification is prevalent. The IAAF (Seb Coe) MUST ban Russia from Rio to not only force them to clean up the culture of doping, but also to send a message to any other NGB or country that this will not be tolerated.
This is a very sad spot for the Olympics next year. I am sure there are both dopers and clean Russian athletes, and, as always, this will affect the innocent athletes in the worst way.
Well then every sample from worlds will need to be retested since the lab could not be trusted.
This is very big news. The Russians, of course, deny this. My guess is that FINA sitting on the neck of the Russians at Kazan, was directly responsible for the Russians’ crappy performances at Kazan. Outside monitors meant that the athletes missed their microdoses, resulting in less than stellar times.
Anyone know where Vlad is?