WADA to consider new inquiries into Russian doping

Lausanne The World AntiDoping Agency is prepared to open new inquiries into suspected systematic doping in Russian sports and other countriesDavid Howman from New Zealand Director General of the WADA British Craig Reedie President of the World AntiDoping Agency WADA and Swiss Olivier Niggli designated Director General of the World AntiDoping Agency WADA from left speak during a press conference during the WADA Symposium for AntiDoping Organizations ADOs in Lausanne PicAFPFour months after a WADAcommissioned investigation alleged a Russian doping conspiracy in track and field WADA president Craig Reedie said yesterday he would reanalyze the report to see if new cases were needed I will determine whether or not there is sufficient information to propose further investigations Reedie told a conference of antidoping officials from across the worldReedie reacted to criticism from the WADA athletes commission last week which said comments in the incriminating report justified investigating other sports in Russia and track and field programs in several other countries The promise helped keep Russia as the focus of doping issues one week after Maria Sharapova announced her positive test for meldonium The bloodflow enhancing medication has triggered at least 99 positive cases many from former Soviet Union countries since being put on WADAs list of banned substances on January 1Under pressure from Russia to justify the science behind its decision WADA director general David Howman defended the agencys working methods established for more than a decade We are not going to start creating a new process because of one substance Howman said on the sidelines of the conference There are provisions that say if a substance is on the list there is no query as to why it is on the listFive months before the Olympics in Rio de Janeiro Russias track and field team remains barred from competition as a result of the WADAcommissioned inquiry The IAAF plans to make a final decision in May on whether Russia should be allowed back in for the games By then other Olympic sports in Russia could be under closer scrutinyReedie said Monday that he spoke with WADA athletes spokeswoman Beckie Scott and promised to reengage with the inquiry team led by Dick Pound plus sports federations and antidoping officials Scott had suggested in an open letter that WADAs response to the Pound report in November was unsatisfactoryThere are quite a number of mentions of other sports Howman acknowledged We know they collected a lot of information and we need to ask them whether any of it wassubstantial enough to open an inquiry Finding money for more lengthy investigations could be a factor Reedie noted that the Pound investigation had cost 15million and WADA had an annual operating budget of 26 million He said he could propose new inquiries and paying for them with the WADA executive board It next meets on May 11 in MontrealWe must pick our battles wisely based on hard evidence Reedie said The Sharapova case was not discussed in detail at the opening sessions of a threeday meeting of national antidoping agencies so as not to prejudice her ongoing disciplinary case by tennis authorities and possible appeals Howman saidStill he appeared to dismiss one line of Sharapovas defense that she and her entourage were unaware of warnings that meldonium which she said she had used since 2006 was about to be prohibited for use without a medical exemptionEvery year you should have on your calendar 1st of October lets look at the banned list to see whats happening Howman said Its not new to athletes its not new to administrators its not new to athlete advisers This has been going on now for 13 14 yearsAsked about reports in Russia quoting sports minister Vitaly Mutkos request to WADA to provide its scientific evidence relating to meldonium Howman said no special favors would be given We will show them the minutes of the meeting which are public and the way in which these things were discussed he saidIn other matters Howman said of collecting athletes samples in Russia now overseen by the British antidoping agency I cant stand here and say it is brilliant yet But it has started Samples taken at the 2014 Sochi Olympics and passed clean should be retested by the IOC long before a 10year statute of limitations expires Howman said Some ought to be tested now rather than wait because of the information we know nowDefending the International Tennis Federations antidoping program which even some players criticize for not testing them enough Howman said national antidoping agencies could conduct more tests but some dont think it is a high risk sport and that is a pity