Doping Scandal: WADA quotes from Dick Pound

“A deeply rooted culture of cheating — the investigation indicates the acceptance of cheating at all levels is widespread and long-standing. Many of the more egregious offenders appear to be coaches who, themselves, were once athletes and who work in connection with medical personnel. This ‘win at all costs’ mentality was then passed to current athletes, whether willing to participate or not. An athlete’s decision not to participate is likely to leave him or her without access to top caliber coaches and thus the opportunity to excel.”

“It’s disappointing to see the nature and extent of what was going on and to reach the conclusion that it could not possibly have happened without everybody knowing about it or consenting to it. “It’s worse that we thought. “It has the effect — unlike other forms of corruption — of actually affecting the results on the field of play.”

“Confirmed involvement by doctors, coaches, and laboratory personnel . . . this report also identifies the intentional and malicious destruction of more than 1,400 samples by Moscow laboratory officials after receiving written notification from WADA to preserve target samples.”

“I think that (IAAF president) Seb Coe is somebody who can grasp this and be transformational enough to bring about some change in athletics. I hope so because his fort is at risk if he doesn’t.”

“Although the IC report and recommendations are confined to Russia and athletics, the IC wishes to make it clear that, in its considered view, Russia is not the only country, nor athletics the only sport, facing the problem of orchestrated doping in sport.” Kerry Gillespie