After
Sochi build, anti-doping fix is child's play: Pound
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[November 18, 2015]
By Steve Keating
COLORADO SPRINGS, Colorado (Reuters) - If
Russia could build Sochi in seven years to host the 2014 Winter Games,
they can fix their doping problems in nine months and compete at the Rio
Olympics, former WADA chief Dick Pound said on Tuesday.
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The International Association of Athletics Federation banned Russia
from the sport last week after a stunning report by a World
Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) independent commission, led by Pound, had
detailed alleged unprecedented doping offences.
The explosive report accused Russia's state security services of
colluding with the country's athletics federation to enable athletes
to freely dope with confidence that test results would be
suppressed.
The report also uncovered evidence of the widespread use of
performance-enhancing drugs in Russian athletics and allegations of
corruption and collusion by Russian and IAAF (International
Association of Athletics Federations) officials.
Despite damning evidence and calls to have Russian athletes barred
from the track and field competition in Rio, Pound made it clear
there was a road back to the 2016 Summer Games for Russia if
officials there made the necessary changes.
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After spending $51 billion and moving mountains to transform Sochi
into a glittering Olympic venue for the 2014 Winter Games, Pound
felt that tearing down and rebuilding the country's corrupt
anti-doping program should be a straightforward task.
"Russia built Sochi in seven years so this is child's play," said
Pound, after briefing the WADA executive committee on his
commission's findings and recommendations.
"All you need is some direction from the political authorities and
say, "look, RUSADA (Russia Anti-Doping Agency) is independent and
the lab is independent and anybody who doesn't make that happen is
in trouble'.
"The same with coaches, you say, "folks the old Soviet system is
over, we're not going to do that anymore and if that is your method
of coaching don't let the door hit you in the butt on the way out'.
"I don't think you will get the culture fixed in nine months but you
can do actions that will come to the same result," added Pound.
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The WADA foundation board will meet on Wednesday and is widely
expected to approve recommendations made in the independent
commission report and officially decertify RUSADA and the Moscow lab
which processed blood and urine samples from Russian athletes on
behalf of the athletics federation.
MONITORING THE CLEAN-UP
The world governing body of athletics (IAAF) also announced a
five-person inspection team which will monitor the clean-up process
in Russia.
Norwegian anti-doping expert Rune Andersen, who is heading the
probe, told Reuters he did not rule out the chance of Russia putting
their house in order in time for them to compete in the Aug. 5-21
Rio Games.
"We said we'll show you the road out of this and it's up to you
whether you take it," said Pound. "We can't force you but you're not
going to like what we say about the things we found.
"So you can either fight the findings or say, 'ok we've got to
change'. If they want to be there for Rio they've got to really act.
They've got to bite the bullet and go full speed ahead to really get
all this done in time for Rio.
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"If they start fighting over everything then fine, take your time,
all the time you want but you are not going to work on your tan (in
Brazil) next summer."
(Editing by Mark Lamport-Stokes)
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