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World Anti-Doping Agency Lifts Ban on Russia

“Frankly, it stinks to high heaven,” U.S. Anti-Doping Agency CEO Travis Tygart said.

The World Anti-Doping Agency voted Thursday to lift its ban on Russia’s sports doping watchdog, CNN reported. Russia’s suspension was implemented in 2015 after it was accused of state-sponsored doping of top athletes up to and including the 2014 Winter Olympics in Sochi. The ban barred more than 100 Russian athletes from competing in the 2016 Rio Olympics and barred Russia’s entire Olympic team from competing in the 2018 Winter Games in PyeongChang, South Korea. WADA confirmed its decision on Twitter with a statement from President Sir Craig Reedie, “This decision provides a clear timeline by which WADA must be given access to the former Moscow laboratory data and samples with a clear commitment by the ExCo that should this timeline not be met, it would support the CRC’s recommendation to reinstate non-compliance.” After a recommendation from WADA’s compliance committee was released last week, the anti-doping bodies for the U.S. and Great Britain urged WADA to reconsider. “Frankly, it stinks to high heaven,” U.S. Anti-Doping Agency CEO Travis Tygart said in a statement prior to Thursday’s announcement. Russia has repeatedly denied allegations of state-sponsored doping.