The most powerful area association, NACAC have “vehemently opposed WADA’s decision” to reinstate Russian Anti-Doping Agency.
On Thursday (Sept 20), WADA president Craig Reedie announced that a “great majority” of the executive committee’s votes were in favour of reinstating Russia.
RUSADA was suspended in November 2015 following allegations of widespread doping made in the McLaren Report, but on Thursday WADA president Craig Reedie announced that a “great majority” of the executive committee’s votes were in favour of reinstating Russia.
“NACAC vehemently opposes WADA’s decision to disregard its own requirements, and the clear voice of athletes – specifically with respects to the athletes of our region,” said the area association in a release.
The U.S. Anti-Doping Agency (USADA) last month issued a statement, strongly opposing WADA’s decision.
“Today marked the biggest decision in the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA)’s history, and it delivered a devastating blow to the world’s clean athletes,” said USADA.
“By ripping up the very ‘Roadmap’ it created, WADA’s decision to reinstate Russia despite the nation not having met the two remaining Roadmap conditions is bewildering and inexplicable. In its landmark meeting today, WADA sent one clear message to the world: we put the wishes of a small handful of sports administrators above the rights of millions of clean athletes and the dreams of billions of sports fans,” the USADA statement said.
Full NACAC Release below:
Dear President Sebastian Coe and the IAAF Council:
We write on behalf of NACAC Athletics Association regarding WADA’s decision to reinstate the Russian Anti- Doping Agency (RUSADA) as decided on September 29, 2018. NACAC vehemently opposes WADA’s decision to disregard its own requirements, and the clear voice of athletes – specifically with respects to the athletes of our region.
Since the reinstatement, the IAAF has issued a public statement indicating its commitment to its established process and criteria for determining the status of RUSAF within the IAAF. To that regard, the NACAC Council respectfully advises the IAAF to adhere to a full and complete IAAF criteria for reinstatement with a strong consideration of the athletes’ input.
Respectfully submitted,
NACAC Council
and NACAC Athlete Commission
