International: Russia On Hot Seat With WADA, Could Affect Olympic Participation

by Derek Levendusky, AWW staff writer

The NY Times is reporting that the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) has given Russia three weeks to explain how positive drug tests were deleted from the database sent in to the anti-doping regulator. Failure to comply or to submit adequate explanation could result in a widespread ban from sports, including next summer’s 2020 Olympic Games.

In a text message to NY Times writer Tariq Panja, the chief executive of Russia’s antidoping agency, Yury Ganus, indicated that if Russia’s reply does not satisfy WADA, the conquences for all Russian sports “will be more than serious.” Any punishment would likely include a ban from next summer’s Olympic Games in Tokyo.

This new ultimatum and imminent threat on Russia’s sports status is the result of the country’s failure to keep a promise that was a major factor in WADA’s original decision to lift a three-year suspension. The grace was given when Russia committed to deliver a massive database—a database that included info on thousands of athletes—to the regulator in the case. That original suspension was imposed after Russia was implicated in one of the most deceptive and elaborate cheating scandals in history, and one that affected numerous major sporting events, including several Olympic Games.

In May of 2016, The NY Times published allegations by Dr. Grigory Rodchenkov, the former director of Russia's anti-doping laboratory, that a conspiracy of systemic corruption implemented by anti-doping officials, FSB (Federal Security Service) intelligence agents, and Russian athletes in on the scheme, resulted in Olympians using banned substances to cheat in Sochi. Part of the cover-up, according to Rodchenkov, included the FSB tampering with over 100 urine samples. He also indicated that as much as a third of the Russian medals won at Sochi were doping-related.

How could this affect the wrestling world? If Russia is punished and banned from Tokyo, and things work like they did in the Winter Games in Pyeongchang, South Korea, Russian athletes permitted by the IOC (International Olympic Committee) could compete under the banner of Olympic Athlete from Russia (OAR). So don’t worry, U.S. wrestling fans will likely see Sidakov and Sadulaev on the mats in Tokyo.