This archive report was first published on 9 December 2019.
December 9, 2019, marked a significant day in the fight against doping in sports as the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) imposed the toughest ever sanctions on Russia.
Grigory Rodchenkov, a Russian whistleblower living in the US under witness protection, hailed the ban as a victory in the war against doping, saying, "Finally, fraud, lies and falsifications of unspeakable proportions have been punished in full swing."
However, Rodchenkov emphasized that there is still much work to be done, warning WADA that "there is more to do." He called for the punishment of those involved in the doping of athletes, stating that "doped athletes do not work alone" and that medical doctors, coaches, and managers who provided substances and protected them should be held accountable.
Rodchenkov also urged the reanalysis of samples from the 2012 London and 2014 Sochi Olympics, citing the limited time frame of eight years to review the evidence. He stressed the need to bring justice back to sport, saying, "There is a whole generation of clean athletes who have painfully abandoned their dreams and lost awards because of Russian cheaters."
WADA's executive committee announced the four-year ban, which will see Russia barred from attending major global sporting events, including the 2020 Tokyo Olympics and the 2022 World Cup in Qatar. The ban also prohibits government officials from attending any major events and prevents the country from hosting or bidding for tournaments.
