July 31, 2016 – The past 10 days have been filled with more appalling news in the fight against doping and further damaged the already tarnished reputation of sport. During our FIS Congress last month, I already reported about the investigation that was being undertaken by the World Anti-Doping Agency following the allegations by the doping control laboratory director at the Olympic Winter Games in Sochi that the samples were manipulated and selected athletes were protected by the system.

Gian Franco Kasper © FIS

“Professor Richard McLaren’s report has evidently revealed a very high number of potential doping cases and of most concern, serious breaches and wilful manipulation of the current anti-doping system. As an organisation who is fully committed to the fight against doping and to protect the clean athletes, FIS will be following up any potential violations of the anti-doping rules and ensuring that any persons and organisations under its jurisdiction that are found to have been implicated in this sordid affair, will be duly punished.

“In one week’s time all seven International Winter Sports Federations will officially meet and address this serious issue, together with input from the International Olympic Committee as the doping authority from Sochi 2014, and the World Anti-Doping Agency.

“This latest doping scandal is another major setback for the image of sport, but it is also an opportunity to demonstrate that we will not tolerate cheating and such disrespect for the values of sport and fair play, as well as address the shortfalls of the anti-doping system so that the clean athletes can have confidence that such actions can never be repeated.”