One step forward, two steps back for Russian sport. The World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) announced in a press release: the Moscow laboratory has lost its authorization to analyze “ blood samples under the Athlete Biological Passport Program“. He had already been the subject of a provisional suspension since January 2020. It was confirmed by the WADA executive committee at the end of last week, on the recommendation of a disciplinary committee. Consequently, " the laboratory therefore remains subject to the ban on carrying out any activity related to the analysis of blood samples within the framework of the Athlete's Biological Passport and on carrying out any other form of anti-doping analysis for signatory organizations of the World Anti-Doping Code", insists the Montreal-based agency. According to current rules, the Moscow laboratory has 21 days from the decision to appeal to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS). In fact, this new suspension does not change much in the current situation of Russian sport, excluded from the Olympic movement for two years, until December 2022. But it further complicates the task of its leaders. In mid-September, Russian Sports Minister Oleg Matytsin met for the first time with WADA President Witold Banka to discuss the conditions for Russia's return to the scene. Obviously, the road still remains long and uncertain.
