US Anti-Doping Chief Calls For Full Transparency In Validating Russian Lab Data

WASHINGTON (UrduPoint News / Sputnik - 11th January, 2019) The United States wants to see a full public accounting of any evidence found in Russia's anti-doping laboratory database, US Anti-Doping Agency (USADA) CEO Travis Tygart said in a statement.

Earlier in the day, Russian sports Minister Pavel Kolobkov told reporters a delegation from the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) and Russian investigators began work on obtaining a database of the Moscow anti-doping laboratory. According to the minister, WADA experts should be able to complete the work on copying the database within two to three days.

"We remain vigilant to ensure a full public disclosure and accounting that the evidence obtained on the approximately 9000 presumptive positive drug tests which exists in the laboratory is authentic and valid and that justice is served for clean athletes in each and every case - it is in the clear public interest that WADA does this openly and transparently," Tygart said on Thursday.

Tygart also said that until all urine samples contained in the Moscow laboratory are seized, WADA should declare Russians non-compliant for missing the deadline.

The WADA Executive Committee restored on September 20 the full status of the Russian Anti-Doping Agency (RUSADA). According to the WADA decision, the Russian side had to provide access to the database by December 31. WADA experts were unable to complete their work by the deadline because the equipment to extract the data had to be certified in accordance with Russian law.