Friday, Jul 05, 2024 | Last Update : 10:48 AM IST
Russians ‘blocking’ dope tests
Russian authorities are obstructing British anti-doping officials from testing Russian athletes, a British television channel said on Wednesday.
Russian authorities are obstructing British anti-doping officials from testing Russian athletes, a British television channel said on Wednesday.
UK Anti-Doping was asked by the World Anti-Doping Agency to oversee the testing of Russian athletes after the world body suspended Russia’s Anti-Doping Agency.
Sky News, quoting unnamed anti-doping sources said, Russian authorities are impinging Ukad’s ability to carry out testing.
Efforts have been frustrated by Russian officials asking for 30 days’ notice of tests and disputing payments for doping control officers, the sources were quoted as saying.
Customs delays are also preventing the transport of blood samples to laboratories outside Russia within the 48-hour window needed for accurate testing.
As a result, the Ukad team are unable to match the 1,000 tests per month being carried out by Rusada, Sky News added.
The Russian case is being discussed in Montreal this week by the Wada board which also suspended the Moscow anti-doping laboratory in April.
Ukad refused to comment on the reports and said it will do so only after its board meeting.
The news comes just a day after Wada said it was investigating fresh claims of Russian doping involving four unnamed Sochi 2014 Winter Olympic gold medallists.
