Russia’s missed deadline on doping data prompts harsh reactions

Twitter erupted with scorn after the December 31 deadline for Russia to open the books on its alleged state-sponsored doping of athletes, imposed as a condition of Russia’s re-instatement in September 2018, passed without that information being made available. And especially after IOC president Thomas Bach indicated that Russia would not be banned from the Olympics even if some kind of suspension is served.

RELATED: Beckie Scott says she experienced “inappropriate, disrespectful, and belittling” comments by some of WADA’s executive committee

WADA update on extraction of Moscow Laboratory data and RUSADA compliance status: https://t.co/ZZ1kUMX0aa

— WADA (@wada_ama) January 1, 2019

WADA’s Compliance Review Committee will meet January 14 and 15, and will make recommendations to the executive committee as to how to proceed.

Russia was conditionally re-instated in September, one of the conditions being that it make available to WADA all data pertaining to its anti-doping program by December 31. in missing the deadline, Russia now risks being banned from a second Olympics in 2020. If Russia is found to be non-compliant, it may appeal to the Court of Arbitration for Sport.

Can't believe #ThomasBach wasn't warned about potential impact these words would have, especially as he knew they would be published day after #Russia had missed deadline to provide information they had promised to @wada_ama. I think he is too arrogant to care #olympics https://t.co/f9AbpAaXNH

— Duncan Mackay (@Duncan_ITG) January 1, 2019

WADA president Sir Craig Reedie has said he is “bitterly disappointed that data extraction from the former Moscow Laboratory has not been completed by the date agreed by WADA’s ExCo in September 2018. Since then, WADA has been working diligently with the Russian authorities to meet the deadline, which was clearly in the best interest of clean sport. The process agreed by WADA’s ExCo in September will now be initiated.”

This message by #ThomasBach will surely reassure Russia that they don’t need to play ball and release data to remain in sporting fold. Maybe that was its intended purpose? https://t.co/W95P3S6iVv

— Nick Butler (@NickJMButler) January 1, 2019

The strongest criticism came from USADA chief executive Travis Tygart, who called the affair “a total joke and an embarrassment for WADA and the global anti-doping system,” recommending that harsh sanctions be imposed on Russia for missing the deadline.

IOC President Thomas Bach proclaims Russia "has served its sanction" for doping (its #Pyeongchang2018 "suspension"), sparking justifiable fury from athletes over Russia's over missed Moscow Laboratory deadline. by @Duncan_ITG @insidethegames https://t.co/cZkEKVhDHu pic.twitter.com/AHfq0Nv5Ny

— Jules Boykoff (@JulesBoykoff) January 2, 2019

“No one is surprised this deadline was ignored,” Tygart goes on in a statement issued by USADA, “and it’s time for WADA to stop being played by the Russians and immediately declare them non-compliant for failing yet again to meet the deadline. We hold athletes strictly accountable, so states that intentionally rob clean athletes and corrupt the Olympic values–through the worst doping scandal in sporting history no less–should also be held accountable.”

Statement from USADA CEO Travis T. Tygart on WADA Failure to Enforce Deadline for Russia Data Submission pic.twitter.com/tjY1Imt5iY

— USADA (@usantidoping) January 1, 2019

In October, Canadian Olympian Beckie Scott resigned from the CRC in protest against the way Russia’s re-instatement was handled.

A WADA inspection team led by Dr. Tony Pascual travelled to Russia to review data from the former Moscow Laboratory in November, but was denied access to the lab because the team’s equipment was not certified under Russian law.

RUSADA was stripped of its accredited status in 2015 after the emergence of allegations of widespread, state-sanctioned doping during the Sochi Olympics in 2014.