Code of Suspicion

Another anti-doping service is being created in Russia

In the near future, a new organization will appear in Russia that will oversee the entire range of issues related to doping in sports. This was stated yesterday by the head of Rossport, Vyacheslav Fetisov, and the head of the Russian Anti-Doping Service, Alexander Derevoyedov, who recently returned from Madrid, where they took part in the Third World Anti-Doping Conference. The new structure will be independent from government and sports institutions. Its founders were the Russian Academy of Sciences and the National Health League Foundation. In anticipation of the 2014 Winter Olympics in Sochi, it is also planned to create another anti-doping laboratory in Russia, in addition to the one that already exists in Moscow. In addition, to effectively combat doping in sports in our country, the staff of the so-called freelance officers of the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) will increase. These will be recruited from among medical students and doctors. According to the head of the Russian Anti-Doping Service, Alexander Derevoedov, work in this direction is now in full swing, and at the beginning of the year he will present a list of potential volunteers.

In its activities, the Russian analogue of WADA will strictly follow the code of this world organization. At the same time, the fundamental law regulating the work of WADA in Madrid has undergone a radical revision in the direction of tightening. Despite the fact that all the amendments will come into force only on January 1, 2009, we can already say today: one way or another they will be projected onto everything related to the topic of doping next year. Moreover, the new president of WADA, Australian John Fahey, demanded that by the end of the year the UNESCO anti-doping convention, which has currently been ratified by 71 countries, be signed by all states claiming the right to host serious competitions - the Olympic Games and world championships. This requirement directly concerns the United States: if the Americans do not change their positions, then Chicago may be automatically excluded from the list of candidates to host the 2016 Summer Olympics.

According to the amendments adopted in Madrid, from 2009 the period of disqualification of athletes caught doping will be increased - from four years to lifelong disqualification. However, if the perpetrator sincerely admits to his crime and actively cooperates with WADA, then the term can be reduced to two years. Moreover, a clause was legalized that those athletes who are only suspected of doping on the basis of samples taken from them are also subject to disqualification. If additional medical studies confirm any changes or dynamics in the athlete’s samples, then even on the basis of these signs, without having the exact name of the prohibited drug found in the body, WADA will be able to admit the guilt of the suspect. For the first time, an amendment was also introduced in relation to prize money. In the future, a disqualified athlete will be required to return not only his medals to the IOC, but also the prize money that accompanies the award he won.

Olga ERMOLINA