Clean athletes have lost all confidence in the anti-doping system and the organisations involved are “in danger of losing all credibility”, World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) vice-president Linda Helleland has claimed after she criticised the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) decision to uphold the appeals of 28 Russians today.
In a highly-critical statement sent to insidethegames, Helleland revealed she planned to propose an “independent” investigation into the entire process, which culminated in the decision of the CAS.
The Norwegian, a former Sports Minister who is now the Minister for Children and Equality, said the current situation is “chaotic” and “untenable” after the verdict was announced with just over a week until the Pyeongchang 2018 Opening Ceremony on February 9.
The CAS upheld the appeals of 28 Russian athletes who contested the International Olympic Committee (IOC) decision to ban them from all future Olympic Games and disqualify their results from the 2014 Games in Sochi for their role in the doping scandal.
A total of 11 athletes had their appeals against the Sochi 2014 disqualification dismissed but have had their life suspensions annulled.
“Since the McLaren Report was published I have followed the different decisions, and consequences of the decisions, with deep concern,” Helleland, elected WADA vice-president in November 2016, told insidethegames.
“The situation, which we now find ourselves, is very chaotic.
“Clean athletes and sport fans around the world have lost confidence in the system.
“The last couple of years people around the world have become frustrated.
“The situation is untenable.”
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