IOC Session given update on anti-doping efforts
The International Olympic Committee (IOC) Session heard reports today from the Inquiry and Disciplinary Commissions, as well as from the President of the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA), Sir Craig Reedie.
Inquiry Commission update
On behalf of Samuel Schmid, the Chief Ethics and Compliance Officer Pâquerette Girard-Zappelli provided an update on the Inquiry Commission. Chaired by the former President of Switzerland, Samuel Schmid, the Inquiry Commission was tasked with addressing the “institutional conspiracy across summer and winter sports athletes who participated with Russian officials within the Ministry of Sport and its infrastructure, such as RUSADA, CSP and the Moscow Laboratory along with the FSB”, in particular with regard to the Olympic Winter Games Sochi 2014.
Read the report from the Inquiry Commission here.
For more information on the forensic analysis of the Sochi samples, read the annex to the Schmid report here.
Disciplinary Commission update
IOC Member and Chair of the Disciplinary Commission Denis Oswald updated the IOC membership on two topics. The Disciplinary Commission is overseeing the retests of samples from the Olympic Games Beijing 2008 and London 2012, and is responsible for investigating the alleged doping violations by Russian athletes at the Olympic Winter Games Sochi 2014.
This IOC reanalysis programme was initiated by the IOC prior to the Olympic Games in Rio last year in order “to provide a level playing field for all clean athletes” via, for example, targeted pre-tests and the reanalysis of stored samples from the Olympic Games Beijing 2008 and London 2012. Around 1,100 samples were selected for retesting, of which 106 samples returned with a positive result, leading to 99 hearings by the IOC Disciplinary Commission. Consequently, 75 medals have been withdrawn.
The Disciplinary Commission is also tasked with addressing the question of doping and manipulation of samples concerning the Russian athletes who participated in the Olympic Winter Games Sochi 2014. Read the report here.
The IOC has taken firm actions with regard to the findings of the McLaren Report on doping and manipulation in Russia which showed that there was a fundamental attack on the integrity of the Olympic Games and on sport in general. In this respect, the IOC established the two Commissions in July 2016.
WADA update
The WADA President Sir Craig Reedie presented to the IOC a report on its progress with the Russian authorities to advance the roadmap for the Russian Anti-Doping Agency (RUSADA)’s compliance, as well as its priorities for the future.
“It’s very clear that much work has been done by the Schmid Commission and the Oswald Commission,” said Reedie. “Though we are not members of these Commissions, we have tried to be as helpful as we can to both bodies.”
On the subject of the Russian cases, he added: “This is a very complex area, and it involves much time, and it demands much care.”
The protection of clean athletes by fighting against doping is a top priority for the IOC, which has established a zero-tolerance policy to combat cheating and to hold accountable anyone responsible for using or providing doping products.