RUSADA not to challenge sanctions imposed by CAS on Russian sport in Dec 2020 - release
MOSCOW. Jan 25 (Interfax) - The Russian Anti-Doping Agency (RUSADA) has decided not to challenge the ruling handed down by the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) in December 2020 in regard to Russian sport, which prohibits Russian athletes from competing under their flag or playing their anthem for two years, the RUSADA press service said on Monday.
"Putting the interests of Russian athletes and Russian sport first, as well as taking into account the need for legal certainty, RUSADA has made the decision not to challenge the CAS award before the Swiss Supreme Court," the press service said.
"RUSADA considers that this chapter has now been closed and is committed to working with WADA [World Anti-Doping Agency] with a view to fully restoring RUSADA's membership status. RUSADA trusts that this process will be constructive and based on a transparent and realistic road map in line with RUSADA's obligations under the World Anti-Doping Code," it said.
"RUSADA will continue to defend the rights of clean Russian athletes and to oppose any form of discrimination against Russian sport," the press service said.
A panel of arbiters at the Lausanne-based CAS pronounced its ruling in the WADA v. RUSADA case on December 17, 2020. Russian athletes were prohibited from competing under their flag or playing their anthem for two years. In addition, Russia was prohibited from hosting or bidding to host the Olympic Games or any world championships for two years.
"Following its detailed review of the reasoned award, RUSADA strongly disagrees with its findings regarding the alleged data manipulations, which - in RUSADA's view - are based on a flawed and one-sided assessment of the facts. We regret that CAS did not take into account the detailed submissions and evidence submitted by RUSADA and the intervening parties over the course of the arbitral proceedings," the press service said.
"We further regret that RUSADA has been deemed non-compliant with the World Anti-Doping Code, although it did not commit any wrongdoing, as expressly acknowledged by WADA," it said.
"RUSADA considers that this decision not only contravenes basic principles of fairness, but is also unwarranted in light of the significant progress made by RUSADA during the reinstatement process, and which has been, again, expressly acknowledged by WADA. For these reasons, RUSADA considers the sanctions imposed by CAS to be wholly unsubstantiated and unjustified," the press service said.
"At the same time, RUSADA welcomes and supports the responsible and reasonable approach taken by the arbitrators with regard to Russian athletes," it said.
"In refusing WADA's request to collectively sanction innocent athletes, the arbitrators have acted in the spirit of fair play and justice by rendering a decision that reflects and upholds the fundamental values and interests of the entire international sports community," the press service said.
"RUSADA welcomes and supports the panel's refusal to endorse the measures of collective punishment against Russian sport requested by WADA in this case, which fundamentally contradict the spirit and the letter of the Olympic Charter and could have set a dangerous precedent threatening the very foundations of the Olympic movement," it said.
"Innocent athletes should never be held responsible for the actions of the few individuals who commit anti-doping rule violations, and who should be investigated individually and punished accordingly," the press service said.