Russia has challenged the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) four-year ban imposed on it. The Russian anti-doping agency, known as RUSADA, sent a formal letter disagreeing with the sanctions imposed earlier this month by the World Anti-Doping Agency.
The case is now heading to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS). Yuri Ganus, head of Russia’s anti-doping agency, said on Friday that as part of the due process, they have sent documents to WADA. Ganus has also attached his own note of protest to Friday’s letter. Ganus said that in the letter to WADA, RUSADA, has again clarified its tough stand against doping. Russia’s anti-doping agency has long claimed stern action against doping.
Ganus, however, said, “It is practically impossible to fight against the WADA ban.” He further said that Russia should accept this ban and bring a change in the system by correcting its mistake.”
WADA earlier this month had banned Russia for sending wrong samples of athletes. WADA investigators found that Moscow laboratory data acquired in January 2019 which covered a period from January 2012 to August 2015 had been manipulated.
The ban would prevent Russia from participating in the Olympics 2020 and the 2022 Football World Cup. Expressing displeasure over the action of the WADA, the Russian President, Vladimir Putin, described it as politically motivated. He had said that Russia would fight a legal battle against this ban.
Russia is the ninth country to be banned in the Olympics. If the ban continues, then for the first time a country’s flag will not be seen due to doping. Earlier, Austria, Bulgaria, Turkey, Hungary, Japan and Germany were banned for participating in the World War.
South Africa (due to apartheid) and Afghanistan (due to Taliban atrocities on women) have also faced ban. Russian players could not participate in 2016 due to doping in athletics, rowing, weightlifting and canoeing. Despite this, Russia won 19 gold medals.
