WADA BLASTED OVER CONTROVERSY

Global gathering bashes Canada-based global doping watchdog over Russia’s reinstatement

Global athletes and antidoping leaders called for major reforms of the World Anti-Doping Agency (Wada) on Wednesday after its controversial reinstatement of Russia.

“Athletes have started a march for transparency, independence and change,” said Helleland, a contender in next year’s Wada chairmanship election. woken up and found a voice. It’s up to Wada and IOC to start listening and act.”

Russian runner and doping whistleblower Yuliya Stepanova, who with husband Vitaliy Stepanov exposed the Russian doping scheme, said she sees Wada and the IOC as opponents.

“My husband and I are not just fighting doping but are increasingly fighting IOC and Wada,” Stepanova told the gathering, according to the US Anti-Doping Agency (USADA). “We now know Wada does not follow its own rules, even though athletes are asked to.”

“Confidence in clean sport is at an all-time low. Athletes and sports fans across the globe have lost confidence in the commitment, resolve, and willingness of Wada to stand up for the ideals upon which it was founded.”

The group called for Wada’s governance structure to be overhauled with active sport leaders not in Wada leadership roles, an inquiry into accusations of Wada bullying and intimidation, greater effort to respect athlete voices, including athlete executive committee memberships and transparency for securing all lab data and anti-doping samples from Russia.