WADA issued an ultimatum to the Russian Anti-Doping Agency

The World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) intends to ban Russian athletes from competing under the national flag at regional, continental and world championships and other competitions held by major organizations if the Russian Anti-Doping Agency (RUSADA) does not meet the criteria of the World Anti-Doping Code. About it reported on the organization’s website.

RUSADA has 21 days from the date of receipt of the official notification to appeal the decision.

Possible consequences also include deprivation of all WADA privileges, inability to hold any positions in the organization and refusal to hold major competitions.

The WADA Executive Committee unanimously supported sanctions against Russia proposed by the WADA Compliance Committee in December 2019. The Russian Anti-Doping Agency (RUSADA) lost its compliance status following an anti-doping scandal when WADA demanded from Russian authorities the Moscow Anti-Doping Laboratory database for 2012–2015. The organization’s commission, which studied the database, came to the conclusion that changes had been made to it. In May 2023 in Montreal passed the next meeting of the WADA executive committee, at which it became known that RUSADA will remain under sanctions for an indefinite period.

September 21 reportedthat Russia remains the only major payer that has not yet made an annual contribution for 2023 to the budget of the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA). The Russian Ministry of Sports explained that the payment amount of $1.27 million was calculated on the basis of the country’s scale of contributions to the Council of Europe. In connection with the withdrawal of the Russian Federation from this organization on March 16, 2022, the Ministry of Sports considers the current financial criteria unacceptable.