Estonian Anti-Doping Agency backs barring dishonest athletes from Olympic Games
The Estonian Anti-Doping Agency supports barring dishonest athletes from the Olympic Games and condemns the long-term and systematic damage done to the principles of fair play in sports as well as the interests of athletes who adhere to them.
Given the findings of professor McLaren’s report published at the beginning of this week, the supervisory board of the Estonian Anti-Doping Agency agrees with calls to ban Russian athletes from international competitions until such time as Russia unequivocally observes the anti-doping rules agreed among countries, the agency said on Friday.
“The Russian example is a lesson in how important it is in the interest of athletes representing a country to have a reliable, i.e. strong, independent and transparent, anti-doping organization. Any subjecting to interest groups has long-term catastrophic consequences,” member of the agency's supervisory board Kristjan Port said.
It would take a long time and a lot of effort on the part of stakeholders to restore trust in anti-doping activities, management board member Elina Kivinukk said.
An independent investigation commissioned by the World Anti-Doping Agency and led by Canadian law professor Richard McLaren confirmed evidence of widespread state-sponsored doping in Russian sports.
Editor: Editor: Dario Cavegn
Source: BNS