More Than 1,000 Russian Athletes Implicated in Doping Scandal, Report Says

More than 1,000 Russian athletes competing in “summer, winter, and Paralympic sport” have been identified in a vast doping conspiracy tainting numerous international competitions in recent years, a finding that indicated a hijacking of global sport, the World Anti-Doping Agency’s chief investigator said Friday.

The individuals “appear to have been involved in or benefited from systematic and centralized cover up and manipulation of the doping control process,” a report from the agency, the second of its kind this year, stated. The findings date to the 2012 London Olympics, and the investigation found that Russian manipulation of the doping control process evolved up to the 2014 Winter Games in Sochi. But as extensive as Russia’s activities and the report’s findings were, they may not capture the full scope of abuse.

“It is impossible to know just how deep and how far back this conspiracy goes,” World Anti-Doping Agency investigator Richard McLaren said. “For years, international sports competitions have unknowingly been hijacked by Russians. Coaches and athletes have been playing on an uneven field. Sports fans and spectators have been deceived.”

A prior investigation, whose results were released before the Rio Olympics this year, found 643 international Russian competitors with positive initial tests. The reported findings led to more than 100 of the nation’s athletes being banned from the Games.

Repercussions from this review are forthcoming. The agency will provide summaries of evidence for the implicated athletes to international sports federations—including the International Olympic Committee—for their consideration, after which point the organizations will be responsible for determining if the information merits the pursuit of sanctions or further investigation.

The IOC said Friday it was already preparing action through the work of two commissions, one to address the broader “institutional conspiracy” perpetrated by Russia’s sports apparatuses and the other to hand down disciplinary measures, as necessary, against athletes who participated in the Sochi Games. Ten Russian medal-winners from the London Games two years prior have already been stripped of their accolades.

“Professor McClaren’s completed report demonstrates a fundamental attack on the integrity of sport,” IOC president Thomas Bach said in a statement. “For me, as an Olympian, any athlete or official who ever took part in such a sophisticated manipulation of the system should be excluded for life from any participation in the Olympic Games in whatever capacity.”

U.S. Olympians have railed against Russia’s doping activity. After Indiana University swimmer Lilly King won gold in Rio in the 100-meter breaststroke over Yulia Efimova, who served a 16-month ban for her infraction, the American said, “It just proves that you can compete clean and still come out on top with all the work you put in.” She was backed up by countryman and historically decorated swimmer Michael Phelps. “I believe sport should be clean and sport should be on an even playing field, and I think that it’s sad that in sports toady we have people who are testing positive not only once but twice and still having the opportunity to swim at this Games.”

American bobsledders have since threatened to boycott a world championship event in Sochi this upcoming February.

The findings from the second WADA report can be accessed here.

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