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 WADA capped a big fortnight for their cause, and a miserable one for
Russia, by suspending the country's anti-doping agency on the back
of an independent commission report that uncovered evidence of
state-sponsored doping and cover-ups.
The suspension of the Russian Anti-Doping Agency (RUSADA) completed
a non-compliance hat-trick.
The Moscow laboratory implicated in the cover-up has been
decertified, while the Russian athletics federation (ARAF) was
banned last week by the world governing body (IAAF).
The commission, led by former-WADA chief Dick Pound, generated
plenty of buzz at Wednesday's board meeting as the world-doping
authority signaled a possible change in the way it does business
going forward.
"I'm not sure they (WADA) realized they had the muscle until we got
our teeth into some reliable evidence and followed up on it and came
out with a report with recommendations," said Pound.
"Maybe that's the new WADA. Maybe we could have gotten there sooner
if we had known how to deal with the kind of information that was
coming from whistle blowers.
"Once we got some hard evidence, some audio, visual recordings,
there you are now we've got something and we know where to go and
how to pursue it. Maybe that's WADA II."
While Russia and their athletics program have been in the WADA
crosshairs, Pound has repeatedly made it clear that it is not the
only country, and athletics not the only sport, with doping issues.
The foundation board heard from several members urging the global
agency to do more and expand its investigations.
Beckie Scott, a Canadian cross-country Olympic champion and chair of
the WADA athlete committee, told the board that many athletes have
asked her why the commission was focused solely on Russia and
Russian athletics.
By the time the day-long meeting had concluded, the board had
endorsed moves for WADA to look at ways to strengthen its ability to
conduct international investigations.
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President Sir Craig Reedie announced he would go to governments
seeking additional money to fund probes and then ask the
International Olympic Committee (IOC), which set up WADA, to match
those donations.
"There is little doubt investigation is certainly one of the ways
forward," Reedie told Reuters.
"We're always asked to do more with limited funds and now this is a
big step forward.
"That's why I specifically said go to the government first they are
keen on it, it would appear, now please put your hands in your
pockets and let's have some additional resources.
"If you are going to do proper investigations you need to employ the
correct people and it's expensive."
Pound put a price tag of at least $1 million on investigations
similar to the one just completed and finding the money to
aggressively pursue drug cheats will be hard.
WADA has an operating budget of $31 million and will eat up $500,000
of its reserve fund this year to stay alive.
"Lots and lots of people said today 'You need to do more
investigations'," said Reedie. "Nobody has turned around and said
'By the way, this is how we are going to pay for it'."
(Editing by Nick Mulvenney)
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