Independent Observers Critique Rio 2016 Program; Sports World Responds

(ATR) International sport bodies welcomed a World Anti-Doping Agency independent observers report highlighting numerous doping control shortcomings at the Rio 2016 Olympics.

The World Anti-Doping Agency Independent Observers report released yesterday detailed a number of failings between the IOC, WADA, Rio 2016, and the Brazilian Anti-Doping Control (ABCD) during the Olympics. The report featured a number of recommendations to future organizing committees and to the IOC and WADA, when the new Independent Testing Authority is implemented ahead of PyeongChang 2018.

Independent observers said budget cutbacks, lack of coordination between Rio 2016 and the ABCD, and numerous logistical failings, were the main culprits to the troubles faced during the 2016 Games.

"These various logistical issues were foreseeable and entirely avoidable, which makes their occurrence all the more disappointing," the report said. "As a result, much of this report must cover old ground, making recommendations to ensure that at future Games the sample collection process returns to the standard that was set at previous Games."

Mario Andrada, director of Rio 2016 communications, told Around the Ringsthat in the beginning of the Games the IOC and WADA voiced their displeasure with the shortcomings but during the Olympics "all areas were protected and clean".

"The report is not complimentary," Andrada said. "We are glad that WADA did the report and observed every single thing in detail. At the end there was no question that we held clean games, there were no suspicions."

Andrada says that conflict between Rio 2016 and the ABCD came when all parties were rushing to get the Rio anti-doping lab re-accredited by WADA. During that period, Andrada said there was a lot of pressure from the IOC and WADA to get the lab up to code, and conflicts arouse between Rio 2016 and the ABCD.

In addition, Andrada believes Rio 2016, WADA, and the IOC’s protection of clean athlete should overshadow the logistical issues stemming from budget cuts. Detailed in the report are anecdotes about lack of training for doping control volunteers, and the difficulties volunteers faced traveling to and doing their jobs during the Games.

"Volunteers could have been better trained; they could have been better here and there, but that was not the reality that we were able to provide in Brazil," Andrada said. "We think the cuts were necessary [to host the Games] to keep the balanced budget and long term they proved to be the best solution."

The Brazilian Sports Ministry and the IOC took the report as a positive, focusing on the success of the doping program during the Games themselves in statements.

"The Olympic and Paralympic Games Rio 2016 have been successfully performed and praised all over the world," a spokesperson from the sports ministry said in a statement to ATR. "The work of the federal government was recognized by WADA. The report signed by independent observers recognize that the Brazilian Laboratory of Doping Control (LBCD) was well equipped, operating safely and efficiently, representing a legacy for the anti-doping movement in South America."

IOC Medical and Scientific Director Richard Budgett said in a statement "the integrity of the program was ensured despite some challenges," that Rio 2016 overcame. The IOC acknowledged the issues laid out in the report, but said all issues were overcome due to collaboration from international actors. Budgett said the report will serve as a blueprint for continuing the fight to protect clean athletes going forward.

"The [observer] recommendations will be carefully studied and passed on to the new independent testing authority," Budgett added. "The IOC looks forward to working with International Federations, National Anti-Doping Organizations and National Olympic Committees to ensure that organizers and the ITA deliver harmonized but sport-specific anti-doping programs at future Olympic Games."

Written by Aaron Bauer

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