US anti-doping chief slams ‘shocking’ Russia report
CALIFORNIA, United States (AFP) — Russia should be barred from international competition if allegations of a State-sponsored doping programme are proven, United States Anti-Doping Agency (USADA) chief Travis Tygart said yesterday.
Describing the allegations contained in the World Anti-Doping Agency’s (WADA) bombshell report in Geneva as “shocking”, Tygart said the investigation had exposed a Russian effort to “take over sport through unlawful means”.
“If Russia has created an organised scheme of State-supported doping, then they have no business being allowed to compete on the world stage,” Tygart said in a statement.
“The world’s athletes deserve better, and all who love clean sport must rise up and confront this threat.”
“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,” Tygart added.
Tygart said USADA would fight to ensure that “clear and decisive action is taken to sweep out anyone who has been involved with this scheme”.
WADA’s independent commission into widespread doping and corruption yesterday recommended Russia should be banned from all competition over the scandal.
The report outlined evidence of systematic cheating, with the awareness and consent of the authorities in Moscow, noting that drug tests for athletes were conducted at a Russian lab which lacked total credibility.