Doping: WADA officials visit labs in Moscow seeking evidence of cheating

MOSCOW— A delegation from the World Anti-Doping Agency visited the Moscow laboratory at the centre of Russia’s doping coverups on Wednesday, seeking data which could lead to more bans for the country’s top athletes.

Russia must provide computer data from the lab before Dec. 31 or risk having its national antidoping agency suspended again, two months after its controversial reinstatement.

“We are very pleased to be here in Russia for this important meeting,” WADA science director Olivier Rabin said. “We believe it’s a sign that we are making progress in our discussions with the Russian authorities.”

WADA has found extensive evidence that Russia routinely falsified drug-testing results, including at the 2014 Sochi Olympics, but must now hope authorities provide genuine data from past years. Russia must also submit athletes’ stored samples for analysis by June 30.

Jim Walden, the lawyer for former lab director and WADA whistleblower Grigory Rodchenkov, told The Associated Press he expects Russia to either hold back the data or provide false information.

“I would posit that there is zero chance that Russia will give access to the backup data for the computers that were used during Sochi, and the lab equipment and the stored samples,” Walden said Tuesday. “So the central question’s going to be: when the Russians refuse what will WADA do? And if it capitu- lates again, then unfortunately the world would know that Russia really was successful at killing anti-doping.”

The head of the Russian antidoping agency, known as RUSADA, urged the government to co-operate with WADA, saying that time was running out to avoid new sanctions for non-cooperation.

“We need to work out what’s in that laboratory,” Yuri Ganus told The Associated Press. “If the laboratory isn’t opened up, God forbid, or there isn’t an opportunity to test the samples ... there will be destructive consequences for Russia.”

WADA visited the lab, where key evidence is sealed off by Russian law enforcement, on Wednesday to make arrangements for a second team to arrive and collect the files.

Depending on how Russia reacts and what the computer files contain, the issue could draw a line under Russia’s years of doping scandals, or lead to more sanctions.

“The sooner we can gain full access to the laboratory, the better,” Rabin said.