WADA satisfied by CAS decisions concerning the Russian Olympic Committee and 68 Russian Athletes

The World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) is satisfied with the decisions delivered today by the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) concerning the arbitrations between the Russian Olympic Committee (ROC), a number of Russian athletes (the Claimant Athletes) and the International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF). The CAS has dismissed both the request for arbitration filed by the ROC and 68 Claimant Athletes; and, the appeal filed by 67 of the same athletes against the IAAF decision to consider them as ineligible for the Rio 2016 Olympic Games.

WADA has supported the International Association of Athletics Federation (IAAF) Council decision taken on 17 June to maintain its suspension of the All-Russian Athletics Federation (ARAF). The suspension was first imposed by the IAAF on 13 November 2015 further to the findings of WADA’s Independent Commission into widespread doping in Russian Athletics.  Under IAAF Rules, Russian track and field athletes are ineligible to compete in international competitions, including Rio 2016, unless they satisfy specific criteria.

“WADA firmly believes that this is not about punishing some athletes for the actions of others,” said Craig Reedie, WADA President. “It is about the IAAF requiring its member National Federation, ARAF, to live up to the IAAF’s World Anti-Doping Code compliant rules by enforcing them effectively in their jurisdiction,” he continued. “This is vital to ensure that all athletes are competing on a level playing-field.”

As such, it is now up to other International Federations to consider their responsibilities under the World Anti-Doping Code as it relates to their Russian National Federations; and, up to the International Olympic Committee, in accordance with its media release of 19 July, to consider its responsibilities under the Olympic Charter.