Wada Investigates German TV Allegations

The World Anti-Doping Agency is to investigate allegations made in a series of German TV documentaries, which claimed a top British athlete escaped investigation after athletics’ governing body, the IAAF, chose not to look at 150 suspicious blood samples

WADA said they had reached the decision after ‘careful review’ of the footage.

WADA President, Sir Craig Reedie, said: ‘The allegations that have been raised in the German television programmes require close scrutiny to determine what actions are required to be taken by WADA and others, to confirm the evidence, seek further evidence, and pursue any anti-doping rule violations or breaches of the International Standards that have allegedly taken place.’

‘WADA must ensure that all athletes who have cheated, either at national or international level, are dealt with in an appropriate fashion under the World Anti-Doping Code.’

German broadcaster ARD reported claims from an anonymous member of the IAAF’s medical commission that there was no targeted testing of athletes who had returned abnormal blood samples between 2006 and 2008.

As well as three unnamed British athletes, including one reportedly ‘well-known’ figure, it is alleged that many of the samples involved were from Russian competitors with athletes from Kenya, Germany, Spain and Morocco also implicated.

The Russian Athletics Federation has since threatened legal action against ARD, rejecting its allegations as ‘lies’.

WADA will announce the details of such an inquiry once the composition of the Commission and the details of the Terms of Reference are completed.