|
WADA released a 58-page report along with an
audio recording of last year's contentious executive board
meeting when Scott, chair of the body's Athletes committee,
alleged she was harassed for objecting to Russia's reinstatement
after a doping ban.
The report revealed it was International Olympic Committee (IOC)
and WADA executive board members Francesco Ricci Bitti and
Patrick Baumann who Scott claimed bullied her.
While the investigation described their exchange as
"disrespectful", it determined their actions did not reach the
level of harassment.
It was also noted that the events that sparked the outburst were
not triggered by Scott's objection to Russia's reinstatement but
comments directed at the IOC's Athletes commission during her
own WADA Athletes commission report.
During the investigation by the law firm Covington and Burling
LLP over a 1,000 documents were reviewed and 32 witnesses
interviewed, including 29 who attended the meeting in the
Seychelles, of which 10 were women.
"Our report concludes that no one at the September 20 executive
committee meeting bullied or harassed Ms. Scott regarding her
objection to the conditional reinstatement of RUSADA, or even
responded directly to it," read the report.
"The exchange between Ms. Scott and Messrs. Francesco Ricci
Bitti and Patrick Baumann took place after Ms. Scott had
presented the Athlete committee report, in which she criticised
the IOC's Athlete commission a member of which was at the table.
"While Ricci Bitti's response to that report reasonably could be
viewed as aggressive or disrespectful, his behavior did not rise
to the level of bullying or harassment."
The investigation conducted by the law firm Covington and
Burling LLP, which has done other work for WADA, raising
concerns of a conflict of interest.
The WADA the executive committee, however, said it was satisfied
that the investigation was conducted independently and in
accordance with international best practices.
Neither Scott nor her legal representatives were immediately
available for comment.
Scott, Canada's most decorated cross-country skier, told the BBC
last November that she was "treated with disrespect" and faced
"inappropriate" comments and gestures for opposing the
reinstatement of Russia’s anti-doping organization.
The report, however, said to the extent there were tense
exchanges they had nothing to do with that decision.
The notion that the angry response was triggered by Scott's
stance on Russia could not be substantiated.
Covington and Burling LLP said they approached Scott eight times
about participating in the inquiry but she refused unless
conditions were met, including a demand her lawyer be able to
cross-examine witnesses during the course of their interviews.
(Editing by Nick Mulvenney)
[© 2019 Thomson Reuters. All rights
reserved.] Copyright 2019 Reuters. All rights reserved. This material may not be published,
broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
Thompson Reuters is solely responsible for this content.
 |
|
