HAPPY WHISTLEBLOWER
Rodchenkov hails IOC’s ban on Russia
THE whistleblower who played a central role in the doping programme which led to Russia’s expulsion from the Winter Olympics welcomed the International Olympic Committee’s ban yesterday, his lawyer said.
Grigory Rodchenkov has been living in hiding in the United States since lifting the lid on the intricate workings of the statesupported scheme to cheat athletes at the 2014 Winter Olympics in Sochi.
Rodchenkov’s lawyer, Jim Walden, told reporters on a conference call yesterday that the former doping laboratory chief was “proud of the work that the IOC has done.”
“Today’s decision sends a powerful message that the IOC has joined the world community in saying that Russia’s cheating needs to be severely sanctioned,” Walden said.
“It was the most elaborate and sophisticated doping system in the history of sports. If it did not carry the most significant sanction it would simply have emboldened Russia and other countries who don’t respect the rules.”
Walden said however that Rodchenkov remained concerned for family and friends who remain in Russia, fearing the possibility of reprisals.
“He is enormously concerned for his family, who he had to leave in Russia,” Walden said.
“He hopes that the world will come together to watch out over them in case there are attempts to retaliate against them.”
Two former colleagues of Rodchenkov died suddenly in February 2016, just months after news of the doping scandal first erupted after a bombshell World AntiDoping Agency (WADA) report.
Walden told reporters yesterday Rodchenkov was resigned to living in fear for the rest of his life.
“The future ahead is hard to chart but for sure, he knows, without any doubt, that he’s going to be looking over his shoulder for the rest of his life.”
Walden meanwhile said Rodchenkov bore no ill-will towards Russia or clean Russian athletes, adding he was motivated only by a desire to see effective anti-doping reforms across world sport.
“He’s gratified that the IOC has taken a bold step with respect to the overwhelming evidence of the Russian Federation doping program in this instance,” Walden said.
“But he knows the Russians are not alone and there are other state-sponsored systems. His only hope is that this is the first step in a long journey towards vindicating clean sports forever.”
WADA recently obtained an internal database from Russia’s drug-testing laboratory when the doping programme was at its peak.
Walden said the files would allow WADA investigators to “connect the dots” and uncover the true scale of Russian doping.
“We’re now talking about thousands and thousands of dirty samples that were covered up,” Walden said.
“WADA has what it needs to show dirty athletes not just from Sochi, but from Beijing and London and various other types of sporting events.”