IPC, Whistleblowers and Clean Athletes Recognized for Integrity in Leadership : media release / Institute of National Anti-Doping Organisations (iNADO). - Bonn : iNADO, 2016
In the days since the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) release of the McLaren Report, integrity in leadership has been in the spotlight. Today, iNADO recognized three groups deserving podium recognition:
- The whistleblowers Yuliya (Rusanova) Stepanov and Vitaly Stepanov for braving the maelstrom of criticism and public attention in search of the truth on behalf of clean sport;
- The International Paralympic Committee (IPC) for so far responding favourably and decisively to recommendations from the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) and for NOT abdicating its important leadership responsibilities; and
- Beckie Scott, Claudia Bokel, Adam Pengilly, Robert Harting and other athletes who have spoken out with a clear and committed voice on behalf of the clean athletes of the world.
Doug MacQuarrie, Chair of iNADO, noted that it wasn’t easy to choose the finalists from a particularly strong field. Also considered were many National Anti-Doping Organizations who established an early and unified position in support of clean athletes in the days since the Report’s release. The International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF) re-established itself as a contender in the ‘Integrity in Leadership’ field with their bold and steadfast actions. Former WADA Chairmen Richard Pound and John Fahey for supporting a clear and manageable solution – beginning with suspending the Russian Olympic Committee. Many sports journalists and media outlets have identified the inherent flaws in the current situation and have continued to hold the appropriate authorities accountable.
As anti-doping’s leader and regulator, WADA itself certainly deserves high praise for its effort to pursue the truth by establishing the McLaren Investigation in the first place and to give meaning to the World Anti-Doping Code by calling for the suspension of the Russian Olympic Committee and the Russian Paralympic Committee.
Not surprisingly, the Russian Sports Ministry and Russian Olympic Committee were disqualified from any consideration for their deceitful effort to defraud the world and cheat clean athletes out of their rightful place on the podium.
In seeking a better way forward, iNADO remains committed to helping to re-establish an Anti-Doping Organization in Russia that can operate in full compliance with the World Anti-Doping Code and contribute effectively in the global network of iNADO Members.
iNADO is the international member association of NADOs. NADOs have the sole and unequivocal mandate to protect clean athletes, without conflicting responsibilities such as promoting sport. iNADO’s 59 Members represent all Olympic Regions and conduct the majority of anti-doping work world-wide each year.
