Wada’s independent report compiled by law professor Richard McLaren was published on 18 July, outlining systematic state-backed doping in Russia and triggering a series of sanctions only days before the start of the Brazil Olympics on 5 August.
“Wada’s Executive Committee... supported Professor McLaren’s independent mandate, which was to obtain evidence as quickly as possible in the interest of clean athletes,” Wada chief Craig Reedie said in a statement.
“While it is destabilising in the lead up to the Games, it is obvious, given the seriousness of the revelations that he uncovered, that they had to be published and acted upon without delay.”
As a result, only one Russian track and field athlete has been cleared to compete while dozens of other Russians from different sports are banned from the Rio Games due to doping sanctions they have received in the past.
