Russia doping whistleblower welcomes ban, urges review of Olympic results

Russia has been banned for four years from major global sporting events including the 2020 Tokyo Olympics and the 2022 World Cup in Qatar.

The former head of Russia's anti-doping agency, who fled Moscow after turning whistleblower, on Monday welcomed a four-year ban from major sporting events imposed on his country.

The former head of Russia's anti-doping agency, who fled Moscow after turning whistleblower, on Monday welcomed a four-year ban from major sporting events imposed on his country.

“Finally, fraud, lies and falsifications of unspeakable proportions have been punished in full swing,” said Grigory Rodchenkov in a statement.

Rodchenkov, who lives in the US under a witness protection program after accusing Russia of widespread doping activities, warned however that for the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) “there is more to do.”

He said those involved in the doping of athletes “should be punished retroactively.”

READ| International Olympic Committee supports four-year Russia ban

“Doped athletes do not work alone. There are medical doctors, coaches and managers who provided substances, advised and protected them. In Russia's state-sponsored doping scheme, there is also a state-sponsored defense of many cheaters including state officials, witnesses and apparatchiks who are lying under oath and have falsified evidence. These individuals are clearly criminals,” he said.

Rodchenkov also called for the results of the 2012 London and 2014 Sochi Olympics to “be reanalyzed and reconsidered with the new knowledge available today.”

“We only have a few months to reanalyze the samples from the 2012 London Games because according to WADA rules, we only have eight years to review,” the Russian whistleblower said.

“There is a whole generation of clean athletes who have painfully abandoned their dreams and lost awards because of Russian cheaters. We need to take the strongest action to bring justice back to sport,” he said.

READ| Russia banned from Tokyo 2020 Olympics, Qatar 2022 World Cup over doping

WADA's executive committee announced earlier on Monday that Russia would be banned for four years from major global sporting events including the 2020 Tokyo Olympics and the 2022 World Cup in Qatar.

It accused Moscow of falsifying data from a doping testing laboratory that was handed over to investigators earlier this year.

The toughest ever sanctions imposed on Russian state authorities will see government officials barred from attending any major events, while the country will lose the right to host, or even bid, for tournaments.

“For too long, Russian doping has detracted from clean sport,” WADA president Craig Reedie said.