Russian Doping Allegations Confirmed by Report

Thomas Murray | July 18, 2016
DONATE
Font Size

A report released Monday by the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) established that the Russian Olympic team that participated in the 2014 Olympic Games took part in government-ordered cheating “beyond a reasonable doubt.”

In May, Grigory Rodchenkov, Russia’s former anti-doping lab director, told the New York Times that he had been ordered by Russian officials to cover up the use of performance-enhancing drugs. The newly released report corroborates Rodchenkov's claims.

Russian officials initially dismissed Rodchenkov’s claim after he came forward, but have not yet commented on the recent findings.  

The two-month investigation was led by Dr. Richard McLaren, a Canadian lawyer. The study was commissioned by WADA in response both Rodchenkov’s and other claims relating to doping by Russian athletes. Rodchenkov stated that the Russian government had enlisted their intelligence service to tamper with evidence because the government wanted their athletes to “win at any cost.”

The report confirms that there is evidence that many Russian Olympic team members had their samples tampered with or replaced. It is also confirmed that the cheating was not just limited to track and field athletes.  

According to McLaren at a press conference in Toronto, a “system was set up following the 2010 Olympics, and was in place until 2014. It allowed the transformation of a positive result to a negative one, overseen by the Deputy Minister of Sport.”

“The system worked well to cover up doping, except at major international events. For Sochi, the Russians needed a new, different methodology. The sample-swapping methodology was applied.”

McLaren did not say how many medalists had participated in doping, but Rodchenkov has previously claimed that there was at least 15 medalists who used the drugs, including gold medalists.  

This report is sure to cause a load of new trouble for the Russian Olympic team. Their track and field athletes have already been banned from the 2016 Rio Olympics after a Russian track and field star and her husband stepped forward to expose the widespread use of performance enhancing drugs on the track and field team.

Russia is contesting the ban with the Court of Arbitration for Sport in Switzerland and a hearing is expected to take place on Tuesday. Although McLaren did not recommend any action to be taken in light of the report, it would not be surprising if the International Olympic Committee (IOC) or other governing bodies recommend that the Rio Olympics not allow the Russian team to compete.

 

donate