IOC chief Bach says WADA decision on Russian doping data 'mandatory'

The International Olympic Committee (IOC) will adhere to the upcoming decisions of the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) on sanctions against Russia. Photo: Reuters

The International Olympic Committee (IOC) will adhere to the upcoming decisions of the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) on sanctions against Russia. Photo: Reuters

Published Dec 5, 2019

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BERLIN – The International Olympic Committee (IOC) will adhere

to the upcoming decisions of the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) on

sanctions against Russia.

"They are mandatory," IOC president Thomas Bach told a press

conference in Lausanne, Switzerland on Thursday.

"The IOC in the Olympic charter has accepted the world anti-doping

code and if there is a decision being issued according to the world

anti-doping code it is mandatory for the IOC."

WADA is due to decide on Monday whether Russia should banned for

another four years from international competition.

Bach said he had "no reason to doubt" the findings of manipulation of

Moscow laboratory data.

Bach spoke of "the alleged 145 cases" and hoped WADA on Monday "make

it clear to what events their decision finally refers and to what

not, and for what reason and for what reason not."

Although a ban could be imposed, Russian athletes could be allowed to

compete as individuals rather than for Russia at next year's Tokyo

Summer Games and at the 2022 Beijing Winter Games, as they did at

last year's Pyeongchang Winter Games.

In Moscow, Russian Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev admitted the

country had a problem with performance-enhancing drug use among

athletes, condemning it as "unacceptable."

"Is there a doping problem among us? Yes. And it's obvious this is

unacceptable, considering the way that sport in the modern world is

supposed to develop," Medvedev said in comments carried by state news

agency TASS.

Over the past half-decade, Russia has struggled with allegations of

widespread use of performance-enhancing drugs among top athletes.

Medvedev suggested that WADA was being too harsh in its approach

towards Russia. He slammed the latest developments as part of a

"perpetual anti-Russian soap opera" and said innocent athletes were

being unfairly punished.

dpa

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