More than 1,900 athletes were sanctioned for doping in 2015, new World Anti-Doping Agency figures show. The 1,929 punishments for failed drug tests were an increase of 14% on the previous year, when 1,693 doping offences were carried out. Wada says increased focus on investigations, intelligence gathering and whistleblowing are behind the rise. “Recent events … Read more
The top Olympics body rejected American proposals for reforming the World Anti-Doping Agency on Thursday, as one of its members stirred controversy by comparing a ban on Russian athletes to the Holocaust. The International Olympic Committee’s executive board issued a declaration calling for a “more robust and independent anti-doping system”, but said sports bodies and … Read more
A senior IOC member apologised on Thursday after he compared the idea of banning doping-tainted Russia from next year’s Winter Olympics to the Holocaust. Gian Franco Kasper, an International Olympic Committee executive board member, said he was “truly sorry” for his comments to journalists in Pyeongchang, South Korea. “It was an inappropriate and insensitive comment,” … Read more
IAAF president Lord Coe says that the Russian authorities have “grasped the enormity of the challenge” as they tackle doping in the country. The IAAF has banned Russian athletes from all competition in the wake of allegations of state-sponsored doping. “The tough decision we made is starting to bear fruit,” he said. The World Anti-Doping … Read more
US swimming legend Michael Phelps called for an urgent overhaul of global anti-doping procedures on Tuesday as the top American drug czar accused the International Olympic Committee of dragging its feet over reform. Phelps, the most decorated Olympic athlete of all time who retired after last year’s Rio Games, told US lawmakers investigating doping on … Read more
The Russian state conspired with athletes and sporting officials to undertake a doping program that was unprecedented in its scale and ambition, according to a report commissioned for the World Anti-Doping Agency. A “systematic and centralized cover-up” benefited more than 1,000 Russian athletes across 30 sports, said Canadian law professor Richard McLaren in an update … Read more
The World Anti-Doping Agency and its head Craig Reedie faced stinging criticism from national Olympic committees yesterday for its handling of the Russian doping scandal, days before its board meeting where the Scot is up for re-election. Reedie, speaking to the general assembly of the Association of National Olympic committees in Doha, Qatar, said these … Read more