On September 20, it was first reported by the Associated Press (AP) that the LIMS data handed over to WADA by the Russian Anti-Doping Agency (RUSADA) had been manipulated and was moving forward with possible sanctions. The data in question came from the Moscow testing lab and was delivered to WADA as a conditon for reinstating Russia’s anti-doping program as compliant.
The LIMS data was used to cross reference leaked data — acquired from a whistleblower — as various stakeholders move forward with potential doping violations.
For those who have followed the dodge and parry tactics of Russia’s anti-doping the news comes as no surprise.
WADA first acknowledge some data discrepancies in July, when it released the following statement in a press release.
“While much has been achieved since the data and samples were retrieved, a lot of highly technical and protracted work remains in collaboration with leading experts in digital forensics. This includes examining some differences identified between the LIMS database provided by a whistleblower in October 2017 and the version WADA I&I removed from the laboratory in January 2019, and any impact that these may have on bringing cases forward.”
Today in Tokyo, WADA’s Compliance Review Committee (CRC) met to discuss the matter and informed WADA’s Executive Committee (ExCo) of its progress. Monday’s WADA press release stated that as a result of its most recent data forensics work, it had opened a “formal compliance procedure against RUSADA on 17 September 2019.”
The relevant parties in Russia have been notified. RUSADA and the Russian Ministry of Sport have been given three weeks to respond to WADA’s latest findings.
