WADA Appoints Overseer of Investigation of Claims of Doping Use in Russia

The World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) announced that Richard McLaren, who has already investigated reports of Russian athletes using doping, will lead the new probe into anti-Russia doping allegations.

MOSCOW (Sputnik) — US media reported this month, citing former director of the Russia-based anti-doping laboratory Grigory Rodchenkov, that dozens of Russian athletes at the 2014 Winter Olympics in Sochi, including at least 15 medal winners and the entire women’s hockey team, were doping throughout the Games as part of a "state-run program." WADA has launched a probe into the claims.

"WADA is grateful to Richard McLaren who has, once again, agreed to join a WADA Investigation Team… With the help of Professor McLaren, we will now gather and review all evidence to determine if there have been any violations to anti-doping rules, or any other rules or law," WADA President Craig Reedie said Thursday.

The International Olympic Committee (IOC) said on Tuesday that its Executive Board has requested the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) to retest doping samples of athletes who had taken part in the Beijing, London and Sochi Olympic Games.

In November 2015, the World Anti-Doping Agency's Independent Commission issued a report accusing Russia of numerous breaches of global anti-doping regulations, and recommended banning Russia from international athletics competitions.

The Russian authorities have promised to carry out a clean-up program to fulfil the WADA demands in order for country's athletes to be allowed to participate in the 2016 Olympics.