Doha: WADA chief Sir Craig Reedie, on Wednesday, apologised for the inappropriate timing of the suspension of the Doha anti-doping laboratory calling it unintentional. He was addressing delegates at the ongoing XXI ANOC General Assembly in Doha. Delegates attending the Assembly were in for a rude shock when reports in the western media were flooded with the four-month ban to a Doha-based laboratory, just hours before the Assembly was scheduled for a start, on Tuesday.
This despite the fact that the actual suspension had taken effect on November 7.
“There is a procedure that WADA has to follow. I was aware of the process and I hoped that the process would be completed much before the Doha ANOC,” said Sir Craig, stressing on the fact that it wasn’t planned.
Directly addressing the president of ANOC, Sheikh Ahmad Al-Fahad AL-Sabah, Sir Craig said, “President, that just happened, it wasn’t intentional. I apologise for that.”
“We know the breach and we are already working to correct it within the given time period (four months).”
About the McLaren report, that is investigating the Sochi doping allegations, he said, “It dealt with very serious allegations made in the media. We knew that it would cause problems for us (WADA) and would cause the media frenzy. That’s why it was dealt with before the Games, rather than later. And so the Games were held successfully.”
This was after Sheikh Sabah, responding to concern of the delegates, said, “I am really worried about the timing of such reports.”
Citing examples, he said, “The McLaren report was ill-timed, the ban of the laboratory in Rio came a few days before the city was set to host the Olympics and now this report about the Doha laboratory has come hours ahead of the ANOC General Assembly.”
“Following the trend, I would say that another report will surface just ahead of the WADA meet (Executive Committee Meeting) later this month (November 19, Glasgow).”
Earlier many delegates voiced their opinion on the issue.
“The timing of such decisions affects the spirit of the sport. They really hit hard on the image of the sport. A country like Qatar is really working hard in promoting the sport. Such decisions really hit hard on the image of the sport,” said Sudan Olympic committee Secretary General, Tong Chor Malek Deran.
A delegate from the Spanish delegation led by their president, Mr. Alejandro Blanco Bravo, said, “Why do such news reports come out around the time when an important meet is on us, like here in Doha?”
“We have to answer odd questions. We should not let an image be created that is damaging to the International Olympic Movement.”
Omar Seydina Diagne, Secretary General of Senegal Olympic Committee, said: “The journalists are only talking about doping and not sports and most athletes are clean, there are only a few black sheep. And such reports are very damaging.”
