FairSport Statement Calling on WADA to Cease Compromise with Russia
On September 20, in the remote Seychelles islands, the leadership of the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) is poised to set the course for integrity in international sports that will last long into the future. WADA is at a crossroad. It can insist on full accountability for Russia’s systematic doping of athletes, or it can back down under pressure from sports promoters.
The precise issue facing WADA is whether to insist that Russia fulfills two requirements, imposed by WADA itself, in response to an independent investigation conducted by respected Canadian lawyer Richard McLaren. McLaren found that Russian governmental agencies had devised an elaborate scheme to dope their athletes as they were competing at Sochi and to conceal the doping from international authorities. Following the investigation, and after much deliberation, WADA put forth a “Roadmap” that eventually was reduced to two conditions that Russia and the Russian Anti-Doping Agency (RUSADA) were required to meet for reinstatement into the world’s anti-doping system: (1) Russia should publicly acknowledge as true the factual conclusions reached by McLaren, and (2) WADA should be allowed access to the RUSADA anti-doping laboratory in Moscow and to the data and other evidence stored there.
Thus far, Russia has adamantly refused to meet these conditions, even though they would immediately result in reinstatement. Instead, Russian operatives have worked behind the scenes with the International Olympic Committee (IOC) and some in WADA leadership positions to water down the remaining Roadmap requirements. These secret discussions have maneuvered WADA into the position of negotiating with itself to find terms that would satisfy Russia — a little like a judge negotiating a sentence with a convicted criminal. At its upcoming meeting, the WADA Executive Committee will either accept or reject Russia’s proposed, self-serving compromise.
Why is WADA willing to alter its own stated conditions of the Roadmap? It was, and still is, the responsibility of Russia to meet the Roadmap’s requirements. WADA has no responsibility to make this easier for Russia. As has been said, this move “stinks to high heaven.” In short, WADA has undermined its own moral and regulatory authority.
To satisfy the first point of the Roadmap, it is important that Russia state the words: “We acknowledge McLaren’s findings.” Taking explicit responsibility for misconduct is a key principle of rehabilitation for the miscreant and for those harmed by it. If the WADA compromise is implemented, this opportunity for genuine remorse and rehabilitation is lost, increasing the possibility (and community confidence) that Russia will re-offend.
Why does “leadership require flexibility” in these circumstances? What exactly was wrong with a status quo that placed the responsibility on Russia to meet the clearly stated and unequivocal requirements of the Roadmap? Do we show athletes “flexibility,” or do we hold them to their strict responsibility to avoid prohibited substances? Why the double standard when it comes to Russian anti-doping responsibilities?
Regarding the second point of the Roadmap requesting access to evidence at the Moscow lab, the current compromise proposal set forth by Russia is an outright path to WADA’s future failure to hold organizations and governments to account. This moral collapse rings clear as a bell to anyone who understands even a little of the long-running chess game at play here. Reinstating Russia without first gaining access to and reviewing the lab data and samples is both premature and counter-productive. Assuming that information has not already been compromised by sophisticated manipulation, it is more likely than not that the evidence will demonstrate an even deeper anti-doping problem in Russia and even more subversion of anti-doping in the past. If anything, this information is likely to justify new or additional sanctions, not the relief of the current ones.
The timing of WADA’s deal does not justify its self-imposed “flexibility.” The next Olympics and Paralympics are two years away. Why not continue to let the pressure build on Russia to meet the strict Roadmap criteria? Time was on WADA’s side, but it has thrown away that advantage for no logical reason, other than to appease Russia.
WADA’s whole process has become “transparent” only after the fact and after numerous leaks have generated huge outrage in the athlete community and in the anti-doping world, and rightly so. If WADA’s failed process continues on its current path to premature Russian reinstatement, it is not an overstatement to say that clean sport will never recover. How can any athlete ever again believe that he or she will be protected?
It is time to put a stop to the WADA backroom maneuvering in the name of Olympic ideals once and for all. It is time for public authorities to push back against expediency over integrity. It is time for athletes to call foul and to stop allowing themselves to serve as pawns in Olympic and global politics. It is now or never.
Jim Swartz
Co-Founder, FairSport