Audio By Carbonatix
The World Anti-Doping Agency continued to crack down on Russia drug cheats on Wednesday by suspending the country's anti-doping agency amid calls to extend investigations to other countries and sports.
Former WADA President Dick Pound, who headed the independent commission, said the probe found cover-ups, bribes to conceal positive tests, destruction of samples and evidence of Russian state security services of colluding with the country's athletics federation to enable athletes to freely dope.
Russia were barred last week by the IAAF and can only return to athletics competition once they have proven they have set up a new framework to stop doping. Israel, Andorra, Argentina, Bolivia and Ukraine were also found non-compliant of the WADA Code and can no longer conduct anti-doping programs.
Brazil, which will host next year's Summer Olympics, France, Belgium, Greece, Mexico and Spain were placed on a compliance "watch list" and have until March to get their house in order and bring their anti-doping programs in line with the WADA Code. While Russia and their athletics program have been in the WADA crosshairs, Pound has repeatedly made it clear that Russia is not the only country and athletics not the only sport with doping issues.
"There have been a lot of calls for a more comprehensive investigation on the basis that it surely is not just athletics in Russia. But whether the WADA management will be able to do that or not I don't know," said Pound.
"Russia is not the only country in the world with this problem so let's not try and make it look as though we think that is the case. "We know about Turkey, we know about Kenya and we know about others so you have to be somewhat even-handed so you don't look like you are picking on one country even if that country has a major problem."
The foundation board heard from several members urging the global agency to do more and dig deeper. Beckie Scott, a Canadian cross-country Olympic champion and chair of the WADA athlete committee, told the board that many athletes have asked her why the commission was focused solely on Russia and Russian athletics.
"They're saying, 'Why not all sports?'" Scott told the board meeting via conference call. "We're at a crossroads. We urge you to please consider the athletes and sports as a whole."
-
Follow Joy Sports on Twitter: @Joy997FM. Our hashtag is #JoySports
Latest Stories
-
The Prosecutor who could not prosecute (A Ghanaian Folktale from the Republic of Uncommon Sense)
12 minutes -
MP urges stakeholders to prioritise education
33 minutes -
Fuel price intervention ‘not a subsidy’ but gov’t taking a hit to protect consumers – Richmond Rockson
33 minutes -
Government to forgo GH¢200m in revenue per pricing window as fuel price cuts take effect
34 minutes -
Tsatsu Tsikata calls for compensation for SALL over 2020 electoral exclusion
34 minutes -
Tsatsu Tsikata says he holds no bitterness over imprisonment, calls for fairness in justice system
35 minutes -
We remain hopeful fuel prices will stabilise or drop – Richmond Rockson
40 minutes -
Ghanaian pastor, 14 others arrested in Canada over alleged homeless fund fraud
43 minutes -
Two suspects arrested over deadly attack on Berekum Chelsea team bus
54 minutes -
Ashanti Regional Minister inspects Common Fund projects in Atwima Kwanwoma
1 hour -
Global climate outlook worrying despite Ghana’s progress – Minister
1 hour -
Bono Minister cuts sod for 24-hour market at Odomase
1 hour -
Cocoa farmers in Guan appeal to government over delayed payments
1 hour -
Licensed Cocoa buyers urge gov’t intervention to ease farmers agitation, threats
1 hour -
Fuel price cuts show Mahama gov’t is people-centred – Richmond Rockson
1 hour