Case Closed on WADA Bullying Inquiry

(ATR) World Anti-Doping Agency President Craig Reedie says the case is closed on allegations that WADA Athletes Committee chair Beckie Scott was the victim of bullying during a September 2018 Executive Committee meeting.

An independent report by a U.S. law firm says there is no evidence that Scott was subject to bullying behavior at the meeting in the Seychelles. The executive committee conditionally lifted the three year suspension of the Russia Anti Doping Agency at the meeting, a move opposed by Scott.

She complained in a letter to WADA President Craig Reedie that she was subject to derisive comments and gestures directed at her by two ExCo members, Francesco Ricci Bitti and the late Patrick Baumann.

But the 133-page report by the Covington law firm says it could not find evidence to back Scott’s charges. Attorneys from the firm reported to the WADA Foundation Board meeting in Montreal Thursday. They said a review of the audio recording of the meeting along with interviews with witnesses failed to substantiate Scott’s complaint. Also lacking, they noted, was the perspective of Scott, who declined to be interviewed for the report.

Scott remained silent in Thursday’s Foundation Board meeting as Reedie solicited comments on the findings of the inquiry.

Others spoke instead, largely expressing regret over the controversy and hope that WADA will move forward.

IOC vice president and IOC Medical Commission chair Ugur Erdener observed the incident does reveal what he called "broken dialogue" on the part of WADA leaders. He rued the $1 million spent by WADA for the inquiry, money he believes would have been spent better on anti-doping research.

Marcos Diaz, the public authorities representative from the Americas said he regretted that an internal dispute had grown into a legal matter. Diaz, vice minister of sport for Dominican Republic, said he looked forward to moving on. Diaz was defeated this week in a two-man race to win the nomination to become next WADA president. Polish Olympian and minister of sport Witold Banka was the winner. He’ll take over from Reedie Jan. 1, 2020.

WADA vice president Linda Helleland says the report suffers from Scott’s refusal to speak to investigators. Still, the Norwegian government official termed harassment "unacceptable". Helleland, who had sought the WADA presidential nomination, said she welcomed working with Banka to change the culture of WADA. Her comments would seem to signal her acceptance of Banka as the nominee for WADA president, ruling out an alternative candidacy.

Helleland says she was concerned about the future and how to heal the rift the controversy has caused between athletes and WADA.

Speaking at his first meeting as a member of the WADA board, Ingmar De Vos, IOC member and president of the International Equestrian Federation urged his colleagues to move on.

In comments to Around the Rings, Rob Koehler, the head of Global Athlete, an advocacy group and a former executive at WADA, called the inquiry a "whitewash". He claims that this episode will discourage athletes from expressing dissent about WADA in the future. Koehler says Scott deserves an apology from WADA.

A statement later in the day from Global Athlete vividly framed the group's take on the findings of the report, charging that "WADA has driven a coach and horses through athletes rights".

Reedie says the WADA Executive Committee will review recommendations made in the Covington report when it meets next in Tokyo in September. The report says WADA should work on improving communications among board members and the Executive Committee.

Reported in Montreal by Ed Hula.