|
 Pound, who headed the independent commission that unearthed
evidence of state-sponsored doping in Russian athletics, thinks that
time is running out for Russia to get its anti-doping house in order
ahead of the Aug. 5-21 Rio Olympics.
A WADA task force has been put in place to overhaul the suspended
Russian Anti-Doping Agency but Pound, who two months ago said it
appeared Russia was simply "changing deck chairs on the Titanic"
still has seen little movement towards compliance.
"They are talking but they are not actually moving," Pound told
Reuters. "WADA has a role, my guess is they will not be in position
to say that RUSADA is compliant so all the pressure is going to get
onto Seb Coe and the IAAF.
"I don't know where they stand with their task force but my guess is
there will be lots of pressure on him to find a way to have the
Russians in Rio."
Russian athletics must prove it has made enough progress in
reforming its anti-doping operation to be re-instated to the sport
in time to take part in the Rio Olympics.
The IAAF will hear from its task force headed by Norwegian Rune
Andersen at Council meetings on June 17 in Vienna and is expected to
make a decision on Russian participation in Rio.
[to top of second column] |
"I don't know where Seb is parked on this but my guess is he will
get his advice from the task force that they will share with him a
day or two before their meeting on June 17," said Pound.
(Reporting by Steve Keating in Toronto; Editing by Frank Pingue)
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