TV documentary says Russia is still breaching anti-doping orders
COLOGNE: Banned Russian athletics are flouting the orders of the IAAF and the World Anti-Doping Agency according to the latest German television report by award-winning reporter Hajo Seppelt.
Doping Top Secret: Russia’s Red Herrings, aired on Sunday night, was the 30-minute long third part of his series of ARD/WDR documentaries about Russia’s doping system.
The programme presented examples in audio and video form about violations of the regulations of WADA and the International Association of Athletics Federations.
Two previous documentaries by Seppelt and ARD/WDR led last November to the IAAF suspending Russia’s athletes indefinitely from all international competitions. Russia’s sports leadership promised fundamental reforms but these were dismissed in the report as mere lip service.
Seppelt reported that suspended coaches were continuing to coach deep in the Russian provinces as if nothing had happened; other coaches were still active drug dealers.
Advance warnings
Documents in the possession of ARD/WDR suggested a newly-elected leader of the Russian Anti-Doping Agency RUSADA, had in the past given athletes advance warnings of doping tests dates.
Joseph de Pencier, the cairman of the International Association of National Anti-Doping Organizations, told Seppelt: “When an official intentionally informs athletes in advance of doping tests, in order to defeat the doping control, disciplinary consequences must follow.
“This must be investigated, and a consequence would be that this person is fired. We are very skeptical. According to current knowledge, Russian athletes should not be allowed to compete at the 2016 Olympic Games.”
Similar concerns were expressed by Clemens Prokop, president of the German Athletics Association (DLV).
He said: “Apparently, the situation already called into question by WADA’s independent commission [led by Dick Pound] has not substantially changed. This can only mean that the conditions for the Olympic participation of Russian athletes is not satisfied.”
** A summary and the original documentary can be accessed on ARD’s sport website www.sportschau.de.
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