April 10, 2018 – Russia continues to be at odds with the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) regarding acceptance of the McLaren Report that detailed the state-sponsored doping program in that country following the confessions made by whistleblower Grigory Rodchenkov, as chronicled in the award-winning documentary film Icarus reports CTV and other media.

The IOC imposed sanctions on Russia after the doping scandal that erupted following the 2014 Winter Olympics ultimately banning the nation from the 2018 Winter Olympics in PyeongChang despite having their ruling against 28 athletes overturned by the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) – read more here. Russian athletes that were allowed to compete at the Games did so as Olympic Athletes from Russia (OAR).

The controversy flared up again when two Russian athletes under the OAR banner were expelled for doping infractions at PyeongChang 2018, while several OAR skiers won medals raising suspicians – most notably Alexander Bolshunov and Andrey Larkov, who won silver and bronze respectively ahead of Canada’s Alex Harvey, who ended up just off the podium in fourth.

In the follow up, WADA is insisting Russia comply with two directives including its accepting the findings of the McLaren Report and as well as allowing WADA access to the tainted samples stored in a Moscow laboratory. WADA has apparently sent Russian four letters addressing the issues, but they have all gone unanswered.

Russia continues to make the contention that there is some greater conspiracy at work. According to the report, “Putin said last year American interests were manipulating sports leaders to use doping scandals that embarrassed Russia ahead of the elections.”

Following the Games, the IOC lifted the suspension on the Russian Olympic body here but WADA and the International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF), the governing body of international track and field, are proving to be tougher opponents. They have threatened further sanctions and outright expulsion should a timely resolution not be found by July.

Russia will host the FIFA World Cup of Soccer this June, and although that tournament is not in jeopardy, FIFA is investigating potential doping cases within Russian soccer.

CTV report here.