(ATR) A five-person WADA delegation is in Moscow this week for a full technical mission to retrieve data from the former Moscow laboratory.
When the World Anti-Doping Agency reinstated the Russian Anti-Doping Agency (RUSADA) in a controversial decision in September, one of the main conditions was the full access of WADA representatives to the suspended Moscow laboratory by no later than December 31.
The WADA team, led by independent anti-doping expert Dr. José Antonio (Toni) Pascual, is expected to take three days to extract data from the Laboratory Information Management System (LIMS) and the underlying raw data of the Laboratory.
"Gaining full access to the laboratory and the data contained within it was the reason behind the 20 September decision and it is satisfying that we are another step closer to realizing that," WADA Director General Olivier Niggli said in a statement.
"The raw data is the missing piece of the puzzle that will complement the duplicate LIMS database that is already in WADA’s possession and help conclude WADA’s McLaren and Operation LIMS investigations."
WADA says a full assessment and verification of the data "will take some time". Once that process is completed, the data will then be used, in conjunction with the re-analysis of samples as required, to build cases against athletes who cheated.
As part of the terms of RUSADA’s reinstatement, Russian authorities must also ensure that any re-analysis of samples required by WADA following review of the laboratory data is completed by no later than June 30, 2019.
Another condition to RUSADA’s reinstatement is also moving forward. Last week, a WADA team completed a two-day audit of RUSADA. Based on its findings, the audit team will prepare a full report highlighting any outstanding issues that need to be addressed.
The Moscow Laboratory’s accreditation was suspended in November 2015 following a key recommendation in WADA’s Pound Commission Report. Its accreditation was revoked in April 2016 and it was subsequently sealed off by Russian law enforcement authorities due to a federal investigation.
Homepage photo: Getty Images
Written by Gerard Farek
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