WADA vows strict doping controls on Russian athletes ahead of 2028 Olympics

The World Anti-Doping Agency will "be vigilant" in monitoring Russian athletes ahead of the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics, Director General Olivier Niggli told AFP on Wednesday, pledging to reassure competitors worldwide that the doping controls surrounding Russia's return to international sport will be robust.taipeitimes+1

The announcement follows the IOC's controversial decision on July 7 to provisionally lift its three-year suspension of the Russian Olympic Committee, clearing a path for Russian athletes to compete in LA28 qualifying events and potentially the Games themselves.reuters+2

No Lab, No Cover-Up

Niggli emphasized that Russia no longer has a WADA-accredited anti-doping laboratory, meaning all samples from Russian Olympic hopefuls must be analyzed abroad. "They can no longer do their internal cooking the way they did in Sochi. At the moment, that's not possible," Niggli said.voz+1

The reference was to the 2014 Sochi Winter Olympics, where Russia orchestrated what WADA called a massive state-backed doping campaign — a scandal that ultimately led to 51 Olympic medals being stripped from Russian athletes. Under the strengthened system, Russian athletes likely to qualify for LA28 will face multiple rounds of pre-Games testing conducted by an entity other than the Russian national agency.swedenherald+2

RUSADA Remains Suspended

WADA President Witold Banka told AFP that the Russian Anti-Doping Agency remains non-compliant with WADA's code and that reinstatement is not on the horizon. "To check whether they are compliant or not, we need to do the audit, an in-person audit in Moscow. Because of the political situation and the war, it was impossible to do it," Banka said.sports.yahoo

Despite the unresolved status of RUSADA, Banka expressed confidence that the situation would not compromise anti-doping integrity at the Games. "There is no threat for the Olympic Games, that this situation will affect the Olympic Games in LA from the anti-doping perspective," he said.sports.yahoo

IOC Decision Draws Mixed Reactions

The IOC's July decision lifted the suspension it imposed in October 2023 after Russia's Olympic body incorporated regional sports councils from occupied regions of Ukraine. While Russian athletes can now enter qualifying competitions, the IOC has not yet approved the use of Russia's flag, colors, or anthem at the Games, saying that decision will come "at an appropriate time". Many international federations, including the International Biathlon Union, continue to maintain their own separate bans on Russian participation.espn+3

"We're not naive," Niggli said. "We're going to be vigilant because other athletes will be looking for reassurance".sports.yahoo