A leading anti-doping group has hinted at changing the structure of the World Anti-Doping 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 Organisations said in a statement Friday members of the WADA executive committee had pressures surrounding the decision that went beyond doping.
The committee voted 9-2 on Thursday to end RUSADA's suspension after weakening the standards originally agreed upon for reinstatement.
WADA receives half its funding from international sports federations, and the other half from governments. 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.
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 anti-doping regulator and governor - exclusively."
The comments from a body that represents 67 anti-doping agencies around the world largely echoed what US 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.
The chair of the British athletes' committee, Vicki Aggar, said "the work of rebooting WADA starts today."
"Athletes have made it clear in recent days that the global anti-doping authority must stretch itself loose from the International Olympic Committee if it is to thrive," Aggar said. "It must keep at arms' length from sports administrators if it is to rebuild."
Share
