MOSCOW (Sputnik) — On Tuesday, the leaders of 19 National Anti-Doping Organizations (NADOs) called for Russia to be banned from hosting any international sports events over "institutionalized doping violations" in Russian sports.
"As regards to competitions currently taking place or planned in Russia – this is a matter for the respective International Federations. Many of them have already taken action and continue to work closely with WADA," Moreau told R-Sport.
The NADO heads from countries including the United States, Germany, France, Japan, Ireland and Austria, during Tuesday's summit in Dublin also called on all Russian athletes to be banned from international competitions.
Meanwhile, the IOC has set up a commission ahead of the 2018 Winter Olympics to look into the issue of Russian participation and consider claims made by all sides, according to the IOC spokesperson.
“For the Olympic Winter Games PyeongChang 2018, two IOC commissions have been set up to coordinate our response. They will respect the due process and give all sides a fair chance to be heard. Following this, the IOC will take all appropriate measures and sanctions," Moreau said.
The Russian doping scandal, simmering since 2014, escalated in July 2016 when the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) independent commission headed by Richard McLaren presented a report accusing Russia of running a state-wide doping program and urging the International Olympic Committee (IOC) to consider a blanket ban on the entire Russian Olympic team. The IOC instead let individual sports federations act on the issue.
On December 9, 2016, the WADA independent commission issued the second part of the report on alleged Russian doping abuse, revealing manipulations by athletes in 30 sporting disciplines. Its publication has resulted in Russia losing the 2016-2017 ISU speed skating world cup, the Biathlon World Cup, the cross-country skiing world cup and the 2017 bobsleigh and skeleton world championships.
