WADA Doping Report: Sports Business Industry Reacts
November 9, 2015
The sports business industry, like the entire sports industry, has been reacting to the findings of the report by the WADA Independent Commission.
WADA has recommended that the IAAF suspends the Russian Athletics Federation.
The WADA commission has also recommended that five athletes and five coaches be given lifetime bans.
Here are some of the reactions following the report…
UK sports minister Tracey Crouch
Ian Prior, Head of Sport at the Guardian and the Observer
Adrian Palmer, Managing Partner at Proven Legal Technologies said:
“Today’s report from WADA has exposed the extent to which both doping and bribery issues are running through the very heart of the athletics world . The industry must now identify anyone guilty of conducting such illicit behaviours and it is time to stop relying on just scientific tests to do so.
“Investigators have a responsibility to look at communications going back a number of years, from people at all levels within the industry. The key source of evidence to identify those involved will come in the form of emails, telephone calls and messages, not only to assess their content but also to detect who has been speaking and meeting with whom. This evidence will be used to gather a case against any further individuals, teams or even entire organisations.
“Going forward, it is imperative that the sports industry now implements a more proactive method of monitoring the activity of individual athletes, teams and management. Investigators must be given permission to receive disclosure of communications and potentially require access to personal devices and location data where necessary.
“This approach, combined with tougher sanctions for those caught or aiding cheating, or manipulating finances, will be our best hope for stopping these violations occurring in the first place, and ensure the focus of competitions remains on sporting talent, rather than potential corruption. ”
IAAF statement:
In response to WADA’s Independent Commission report issued today, the IAAF President, Sebastian Coe, has taken the urgent step of seeking approval from his fellow IAAF Council Members to consider sanctions against the Russian Athletics Federation (ARAF). These sanctions could include provisional and full suspension and the removal of future IAAF events.
Commenting on the report, the IAAF President said: “The information in WADA’s Independent Commissions Report is alarming. We need time to properly digest and understand the detailed findings included in the report.
However, I have urged the Council to start the process of considering sanctions against ARAF. This step has not been taken lightly. Our athletes, partners and fans have my total assurance that where there are failures in our governance or our anti-doping programmes we will fix them.
We will do whatever it takes to protect the clean athletes and rebuild trust in our sport. The IAAF will continue to offer the police authorities our full co-operation into their ongoing investigation.
Statement from USADA CEO Travis T. Tygart on the Russia report by WADA:
“USADA applauds the work of the WADA Independent Commission, led by Mr. Pound, in exposing a Russian effort to takeover sport through unlawful means. The evidence released today demonstrates a shocking level of corruption, and sends a clear message to Russia that they will not be allowed to cheat the world’s athletes and escape justice behind a wall of deception and lies.
If Russia has created an organized scheme of state supported doping, then they have no business being allowed to compete on the world stage.
The world’s athletes deserve better, and all who love clean sport must rise up and confront this threat. We will continue to fight on behalf of all clean athletes to ensure that clear and decisive action is taken to sweep out anyone who has been involved with this scheme.”
USADA is responsible for the testing and results management process for athletes in the U.S. Olympic and Paralympic Movement. USADA is equally dedicated to preserving the integrity of sport through research initiatives and educational programs.
Former British long-distance runner Paula Radcliffe
Great Britain athlete Jenny Meadows
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