Things are accelerating in the doping saga in Russia. With, for this new week of broadcast, two filming scenes.
The first takes place in Moscow, behind the silent walls of the anti-doping laboratory. It looks like a remake. The second opens this Monday, January 14 in Montreal. It will be held in a meeting room at the headquarters of the World Anti-Doping Agency. Not spectacular but highly anticipated.
In Moscow, the trio of experts sent by WADA began their sixth day of presence in Russia. So far, everything seems to be going smoothly. It works. Otherwise, we would already know. Scientists are continuing their work to extract data on the samples, more than 9400 according to the official version, hidden by the Russian authorities and suspected of presenting anomalies.
WADA confirmed this on Sunday January 13: its team of experts, who arrived in Russia last Wednesday, “ is still in the data collection laboratory. » No release date has been announced. The Russian Ministry of Sports initially estimated that the visit of the WADA envoys would last no more than 3 days. Neither party wished to explain the reason for such an extension of stay. Mystery.
Montreal now. The WADA Compliance Review Committee meets for two days, starting this Monday morning, at the institution's headquarters. On the agenda, only one subject: Russia. Its six members must analyze the situation at the moment. The only problem, but a major one: the work is still in progress in Moscow. They will therefore have to establish a recommendation without having the elements in their entirety. Strange timing.
At the end of its meeting, the compliance review committee must transmit an opinion, or even a decided position, to the executive committee. Its members will have until Thursday January 17 to submit their report. Beyond that, they would be out of time. The WADA executive committee must indeed make a decision on Russia next week, Tuesday January 22, after a telephone meeting.
At this stage, predicting WADA's decision is science fiction. The organization chaired by Craig Reedie is being urged by national agencies, led by the United States, and by athletes, to sanction Russia without wasting time. But, in the opposite camp, the IOC suggests without hiding it to show clemency towards Russian sport.
The only certainty: Russia would not allow itself to be sanctioned again without launching its cavalry at full gallop. Its sports authorities are already suggesting that they will refer the matter to the Court of Arbitration for Sport. The soap opera could continue.
