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EOC President Patrick Hickey. Photo/Getty Images
ROME, July 17, 2016 - President of the European Olympic Committee Mr Patrick Hickey issued the following statement in answer to the McClaren report:
"Today I have seen an e-mail that has been sent to a number of athletes and anti-doping organisations by Beckie Scott, Chair of the WADA Athletes Commission, asking for the recipients to counter-sign a letter (attached to her e-mail) from the US and Canadian National Anti-doping Agencies addressed to the President of the IOC. This letter calls upon the IOC to instigate a wholesale ban of the Russian Olympic Committee team in Rio2016. This unprecedented call for such a ban is based on what the US and Canadian National Anti-doping Agencies say are the findings of the independent McLaren Report.
"The e-mail from Beckie Scott and the attached letter has shocked and concerned me on a number of levels.
"Firstly, the McLaren report is meant to be a totally independent report that must remain totally confidential until its publication on Monday, 18 July 2016 at 09:00 in Canada. It is clear from the e-mail and letter that both the independence and the confidentiality of the report have been compromised.
"My concern is that there seems to have been an attempt to agree an outcome before any evidence has been presented.
"Such interference and calls ahead of the McLaren Report publication are totally against internationally recognised fair legal process and may have completely undermined the integrity and therefore the credibility of this important report.
"Secondly, I have checked with the chairperson of The EOC Athletes Commission and he has not been consulted about the request in the Scott e-mail for European signatories. Yet I note from her email that three European NADOS 'amongst others' have been approached to sign. It is clear that only athletes and organisations known to support a ban of the Russian Olympic Team have been contacted.
"Finally I have to question on what authority the USA and Canadian Anti-Doping agencies prepared their letter and what mandate they have to lead an international call for a ban of another nation in the Olympic family.
"Whilst I fully understand and share international concerns over the recent doping allegations, we cannot allow any individuals or groups to interfere or damage the integrity of fair and due legal process."
Comments from two more senior EOC executives to the proposed letter addressed to the IOC from USADA and CCES which is based prematurely on the findings of the independent McLaren report which is not due to be published until Monday, 18 July.
Zlatko Matesa [EOC Executive Committee Member, President of Croatia NOC and former Prime Minister of Croatia]
"I am surprised by the premature calls for the Russian Olympic team to be banned ahead of the due process necessary to review and act upon the McLaren report. It seems incredible that important members of the Olympic Movement are seeking to build a global coalition to get another National Olympic Committee banned even before the requisite evidence has been published. This is not in the Olympic spirit and casts a shadow over the integrity of the McLaren report."
Spyros Capralos [EOC Executive Committee Member, President of Greece NOC]
"It is very disappointing to see prominent Olympic stakeholders attempting to get another family member banned from the Olympic Games in this rather underhand way. The real victims of all of this will be athletes from all the nations who are seeking fair but universal competition.
"All of us want zero tolerance of doping and all forms of cheating in sport. However this must be conducted in an open and transparent way, not through building alliances of national prejudice based on supposition rather than evidence."
WADA Statement regarding The Sunday Times/ARD doping allegations concerning British, Kenyan and other athletes training in Kenya
The front page of The Sunday Times on July 10, revealing allegations of UK doping
MONTREAL, June 11, 2016 - The World Anti-Doping Agency has confirmed that it will review all evidence and take the necessary action related to today’s The Sunday Times article; which, alleges that British athletes are exploiting the opportunity of altitude training in Kenya to take prohibited substances supplied by Kenyan doctors. The article which was the result of a joint investigation with German broadcaster ARD, includes undercover video coverage claiming that Kenyan doctors are providing prohibited substances to British; as well as, Kenyan and other athletes.
WADA has been in contact with UK Anti-Doping (UKAD) and are satisfied with the action they’re taking to quickly open an investigation in the interest of corroborating the evidence and investigating further.
“WADA is grateful to The Sunday Times and ARD for bringing the evidence to UKAD’s attention,” said Olivier Niggli, Director General, WADA. “As UKAD is actively investigating the matter of British athletes, I have been in touch with their Chief Executive, Nicole Sapstead, to offer WADA’s support as the situation evolves,” he continued. “I have full confidence that UKAD is addressing the matter with the necessary urgency and rigor,” Niggli said. “In due course, WADA will be reviewing the evidence that UKAD compiles and taking the necessary action to ensure the protection of clean sport,” Niggli continued.
“On the broader topic of Kenya, this article is one in a series of reports questioning Kenya’s ability to effectively address doping; and, suggesting that there exists a culture of doping in the country,” said Niggli. “Once WADA has had the opportunity to review the evidence from UKAD’s investigation, we will be better positioned to determine what action is required to address the allegations,” he continued. “At the very least, this is an indication that the Kenyan government must quickly put the necessary human resources behind Anti-Doping Agency of Kenya (ADAK) in the interest of protecting clean sport.”
On 12 May 2016, WADA’s Foundation Board declared ADAK non-compliant with immediate effect. The Kenyan authorities had been given a series of deadlines to introduce a parliamentary bill, policy and rules for ADAK; however, following a 2 May meeting, WADA’s independent Compliance Review Committee (CRC) confirmed that the outstanding issues had still not been addressed and so made the recommendation of non-compliance to the Board. As in all cases of non-compliance, WADA has handed the decision over to its stakeholders, the International Olympic Committee (IOC) and UNESCO for their consideration and action.
WADA has been in contact with UK Anti-Doping (UKAD) and are satisfied with the action they’re taking to quickly open an investigation in the interest of corroborating the evidence and investigating further.
“WADA is grateful to The Sunday Times and ARD for bringing the evidence to UKAD’s attention,” said Olivier Niggli, Director General, WADA. “As UKAD is actively investigating the matter of British athletes, I have been in touch with their Chief Executive, Nicole Sapstead, to offer WADA’s support as the situation evolves,” he continued. “I have full confidence that UKAD is addressing the matter with the necessary urgency and rigor,” Niggli said. “In due course, WADA will be reviewing the evidence that UKAD compiles and taking the necessary action to ensure the protection of clean sport,” Niggli continued.
“On the broader topic of Kenya, this article is one in a series of reports questioning Kenya’s ability to effectively address doping; and, suggesting that there exists a culture of doping in the country,” said Niggli. “Once WADA has had the opportunity to review the evidence from UKAD’s investigation, we will be better positioned to determine what action is required to address the allegations,” he continued. “At the very least, this is an indication that the Kenyan government must quickly put the necessary human resources behind Anti-Doping Agency of Kenya (ADAK) in the interest of protecting clean sport.”
On 12 May 2016, WADA’s Foundation Board declared ADAK non-compliant with immediate effect. The Kenyan authorities had been given a series of deadlines to introduce a parliamentary bill, policy and rules for ADAK; however, following a 2 May meeting, WADA’s independent Compliance Review Committee (CRC) confirmed that the outstanding issues had still not been addressed and so made the recommendation of non-compliance to the Board. As in all cases of non-compliance, WADA has handed the decision over to its stakeholders, the International Olympic Committee (IOC) and UNESCO for their consideration and action.
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