The World Anti-Doping Agency (Wada) has revealed its ‘bitterly disappointed’ after confirming that Russia had missed the 31 December deadline for handing over significant doping data.
The decision could see Russia face a further ban from international sporting events, as it means one of the conditions of Wada controversially lifting the three-year suspension on the Russian Anti-Doping Agency (Rada) has not been met.
“I am bitterly disappointed that data extraction from the former Moscow Laboratory has not been completed by the date agreed,” said Wada President Craig Reedie.
United States Anti-Doping Agency Chief Travis Tygart emphasised its belief that the situation was nothing short of an embarrassment for Wada, underlining his view that Rada should once again be dealt a suspension.
The US was joined by 15 other national anti-doping bodies (Nado) who called on Russia to be suspended. In a statement, Nado leaders said: “Russia must be held accountable for its continuing failure to comply.
“After more than three years of review, indecision and compromise in response to the worst doping scandal in the history of sport, the time has come to demonstrate that no individual nor nation is exempt from compliance with the World Anti-Doping Code.”
Nonetheless, the calls were rejected by International Olympic Committee president Thomas Bach, who emphasised: “With its suspension from the Olympic Winter Games Pyeongchang 2018, the Russian Olympic Committee has served its sanction, while in other organisations procedures are still ongoing.”
The case will now be escalated to Wada’s compliance review committee, who are due to meet on 14 January in Canada.