WADA vote on Russia ‘failed clean athletes’

Saddled with ‘conflicting priorities’

A leading anti-doping group hinted at changing the structure of the World AntiDoping Agency, saying the decision to reinstate Russia’s drug-fighting operation is a sign WADA leaders are saddled with “conflicting priorities.”

The Institute of National Anti-Doping Organizations said in a statement Friday that members of the WADA executive committee had pressures surrounding the decision that went beyond doping.

The committee voted 9-2 on Thursday to end the Russian Anti-Doping Agency’s (RUSADA’s) suspension after weakening the standards originally agreed upon for reinstatement.

The committee is headed by Craig Reedie, whose status as a member of the International Olympic Committee has long been viewed by people in the anti-doping community as a conflict of interest.

The other spots on the committee are divided among sports and government leaders.

Linda Helleland, the minister of children and equality in Norway, was among those voting “no,” and after the vote said, “Today, we failed the clean athletes of the world.”

The institute said WADA “surrendered to pressure from the IOC and the Russian government to substantially weaken the terms of the Road Map.”

“This is not good governance, nor does it reflect a good governance model,” the statement said.

“WADA must be an effective and resolute global antidoping regulator and governor — exclusively.”

The comments from a body that represents 67 antidoping agencies around the world largely echoed what U.S. Anti-Doping Agency CEO Travis Tygart said in the hours following the decision, when he called for revamping WADA.

“It starts by removing the inherent conflict of interest that comes about from the IOC fox guarding the WADA henhouse,” Tygart said.