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FIBA Medical Commission introduces changes designed to “keep basketball free of doping”

By
U.S. Sports Academy
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The International Basketball Federation’s (FIBA) Medical Commission has introduced changes said to be designed to keep the sport “free of doping” following a meeting at the world governing body’s headquarters in Mies, Switzerland.

During the two-day meeting, the Medical Commission reviewed the current developments taking place within FIBA, such as the new competition and qualification system which comes into effect in 2017 and the continued growth of its 3×3 discipline, and determined what challenges may lay ahead from a medical and anti-doping perspective.

As a result of this reflection, the Commission has revamped its strategy for the current cycle and placed an emphasis on a number of key initiatives, including strengthening FIBA’s healthcare programme with a particular focus on the new system of competition.

Supporting the growth of 3×3 basketball from a medical and anti-doping point of view is also considered a priority as well as further enhancing FIBA’s anti-doping programme, especially with regard to its major events and the education of basketball’s future stars.

“With the new FIBA competition format, expanding 3×3 competition and emerging global anti-doping strategies, the Medical Commission noted that, while we had a strong ‘clean sport’ record, there were some future challenges,” said Peter Harcourt, chairman of the Medical Commission.

“Consequently, the Medical Commission refreshed its commitment to the fight against doping and made significant changes to the FIBA doping controls and education programmes.

“These changes are designed to enhance FIBA’s fight against the use of performance enhancing drugs and keep basketball free of doping.

“We all wanted to retain basketball as a ‘clean game’ and help protect the sport we love.”

The 12-person Medical Commission, which is in place for a five-year term, from 2014 to 2019, claimed that this year saw an unprecedented number of doping controls performed in the lead-up to and during the 10 Continental Championships.

An extensive anti-doping programme carried out by FIBA last year confirmed that basketball is a low-risk doping sport, according to officials in October 2014.

More than 300 samples were collected over the course of the FIBA Basketball World Cup, the FIBA World Championship for women and the FIBA Under-17 World Championships for men and women, with a minimum of three players tested per team.

The testing was carried out to establish athlete biological passports and to detect human growth hormones and erythropoietin (EPO) among others.

The findings showed that no prohibited substances were detected in any of the samples.

Details of FIBA’s new competition and qualification system were released in September.

It is hoped the system, unveiled at a press conference during the EuroBasket 2015 event in Lille, France, will generate more exposure for the sport.

The modified calendar, includes a revamped qualification process for the 2019 FIBA Basketball World Cup, recently awarded to China, and will have a direct effect on how teams can secure places at the Olympic Games in Tokyo the following year.

Under the qualification system, seven countries, made up of the two highest ranking European and Americas teams and the top performing African, Asian and Oceania side at the 2019 Basketball World Cup, will earn a berth at Tokyo 2020.

The other teams will have to battle it out in Olympic qualifying tournaments.

To earn qualification for the World Cup, held every four years, competing countries across the four continents – Europe, Americas, Africa and Asia Pacific – will now be split into two divisions, A and B, to correspond with their ability level.

By Daniel Etchells

This article was republished with permission from the original publisher, www.insidethegames.biz

Exclusive: Coe gets backing from athletics community as he pledges to restore “trust and credibility”

By
U.S. Sports Academy
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International Association of Athletics Federation (IAAF) President Sebastian Coe has vowed he will not be swayed by outside pressure when making a decision about whether or not to ban Russia following allegations of “state-sponsored” doping.

Suspending the All-Russia Athletics Federation (ARAF) was the key recommendation in the report published by the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) yesterday.

Claims in the report of corruption and the cover-up of positive doping cases involving Russian athletes have already been dismissed as “groundless” by the Kremlin, who have claimed there is “no proof” for the allegations.

“There’s a lot of static around on a lot of things at the moment,” Coe told insidethegames today. “I can’t spend my time second guessing or judging what people are saying. I can only put the processes in place. I have asked the Russian Athletics Federation to respond to the allegations. I’m not interested in the politics.”

The ARAF have been given until tomorrow to respond to the allegations.

If they fail to do so the IAAF’s ruling Council still plan to decide what action to take during an emergency meeting due to be held this weekend.

Coe has claimed he is focused on finding a solution to the crisis, dismissing criticism he should have been aware that his predecessor Lamine Diack and senior officials at the world governing body were involved in corruption and covering up drugs tests.

“The scale of allegations was off the graph,” Coe said. “The scale of the allegations being made against the IAAF is beyond serious. If those allegations are upheld it’s abhorrent. I can only focus on what I have now within my gift and that is I have to sort it out. There’s no ambiguity about that. I don’t have the luxury of hindsight, although looking back at what went wrong is a very important part of this process. It’s clear I have to return the sport to a level of trust and credibility we haven’t had for far too long.”

The first time Coe and the IAAF saw the WADA report was when it was published yesterday afternoon.

He admitted he was astonished by the scale and breadth of the allegations.

Coe has not spoken to Diack since he was arrested by French police last week and has not attempted to contact him.

“It was worse than I thought because of the nature and extent of it,” he told insidethegames. “It was truly shocking.”

Coe has claimed he is unconcerned by the level of personal criticism he has received.

He admitted, though, he is reconsidering the other positions he holds outside the IAAF, including his role as chairman of the British Olympic Association and his position as a global adviser with Nike.

“It is inevitable that will come with the territory,” said Coe. “Now I only have one focus, fixing this without allowing my anger to come through. Everything is now being reviewed and that includes me.”

Kremlin claims doping allegations in WADA report are “groundless”

By
U.S. Sports Academy
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Claims that Russia were involved in “state-supported” doping are groundless and not backed up by evidence so far, the Kremlin claimed today.

“Whenever any charges are made, there must be some evidence they rely on, Dmitry Peskov, the official spokesman for Russian President Vladimir Putin, told the country’s official news agency TASS today.

“As long as there has been no proof, it is hard to react to any accusations, which look rather groundless.”

Putin also appears to have come out in support of Russia’s Sports Minister Vitaly Mutko who has been accused by Richard Pound, the chairman of the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) Independent Commission, which published the report in Geneva yesterday, of being “complicit” in the cover-up and corruption of the country’s athletes.

Peskov claimed any questions about Mutko’s position were inappropriate because he is the “incumbent Minister” and revealed that Putin would soon appear in public with him at a number of events.

“I was not a witness to any contacts, but they often communicate on business issues,” said Peskov.

“But in general, some Olympic-related events are scheduled for this week.

“They were planned a few weeks ago.”

Mutko’s department had released a statement last night, following the publication of the report, in which they called upon WADA to focus on “real facts and evidence”.

The WADA Independent Commission has called on the International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF) to suspend Russia, meaning they could be banned from next year’s Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro.

IAAF President Sebastian Coe has given the All-Russia Athletics Federation until the end of the week to respond to the allegations.

The ARAF, meanwhile, have pledged to show their “commitment” and “openness to the cooperation” of working with the IAAF and WADA but have claimed they should not be suspended.

“The following days the Russian Athletic Federation will present to the IAAF the document that includes the Federation’s anti-doping programme, certain steps on the programme realisation (including those that have already been taken) and the response to the WADA Independent Commission’s conclusions and allegations,” they said in a statement on their website.

“We are ready to the meaningful strategic partnership with IAAF, including the measures to fix the existing in Russian and world athletics problems.

“The real fair partnership in this work is much more effective than any kind of suspension and isolation.”

The acting ARAF President Vadim Zelichenok was criticised within the WADA report, who claim that he refused to cooperate with the investigators and tried to stop the Independent Commission interviewing Russian athletes.

Exclusive: Mystery over eight unidentified adverse analytical findings at All-Africa Games

By
U.S. Sports Academy
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Eight unidentified competitors at the recent All-Africa Games in Brazzaville have produced adverse analytical findings (AAFs), in spite of a doping control programme severely criticised as “ineffective from the start” by the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) independent observer.

The athletes in question are said to comprise three weightlifters, two wrestlers and three track and field competitors.

However, no further information is at present available.

According to the independent observer’s report, “despite repeated attempts, the [independent observer] team has not received any information regarding these eight AAFs…

“We are unaware of the athlete’s name, whether he/she won a medal, etc.”

The 16-day event in the Republic of Congo’s capital city in September saw some 8,000 athletes from 54 nations compete in 20 sports.

Egypt topped the medals table with 78 golds.

The eight-page independent observer report paints a picture of a problem-plagued doping control operation that it describes as “chaotic and unorganised”.

In one extraordinary example of the shortcomings experienced, doping control officers (DCOs) actually staged a one-day strike on September 15, the day of the 20 kilometer walk races and a men’s football semi-final involving the host nation.

Describing the working environment within the local organising committee (COJA) as “dysfunctional and ineffective”, the report states that the independent observer team “witnessed several public arguments between the Chair of the [Anti-Doping Sub-Commission] and the President of the [Health, Hygiene and Anti-Doping Commission]”, as well as others.

The report continues: “The poor treatment of the DCOs was something that the independent observer team has never witnessed before.

“In one instance, the international DCOs requested a meeting with the President of the HHADC to outline some concerns over their treatment in Brazzaville – inadequate accommodation, no accreditation, no transport, lack of food and lack of clarity on their daily honorarium.

“Instead of attempting to discuss and resolve these issues, the President of the HHADC berated the DCOs and demanded that they accept the conditions that were being provided.

“This dictatorial approach was observed several times through the Games…

“On 15 September, with the end of the Games approaching and no improvements made, the DCOs staged a one-day strike where they demanded, at a minimum to be paid for their time (as promised by COJA).

“After one day of striking, a compromise was reached.”

The report concludes that there is “very little that can be taken as a positive from the doping control programme implemented by COJA”.

The entire programme was “generally speaking, ineffective from the start…

“Every aspect of the doping control programme could be improved.”

The independent observer team was led by Dr Hans Cooman, doping control coordinator from the National Anti-Doping Organisation Flanders.

A letter from the Departments of Social Affairs of the African Union (AU), published along with the report, said the AU Commission shared the concern raised, but sought to assure WADA that delivery of anti-doping programmes would be “more organised and effective” at future Games.

NOC President Alexander Zukov in Lausanne, IOC President Thomas Bach

By
U.S. Sports Academy
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0

Having met Russia’s NOC President Alexander Zukov in Lausanne, IOC President Thomas Bach expressed confidence that the initiatives being proposed by the ROC, with the responsible international organisations, WADA and the IAAF, will ensure compliance as soon as possible in order to provide participation of the clean Russian athletes at the Olympic Games”. Praising the “openness of the discussion”, Bach said: “I welcome the fact that the ROC expressed its firm commitment to protect the clean athletes, and to sanction all the doped athletes and officials, with Alexander Zukow adding: “The Russian Olympic Committee is determined that the clean athletes should compete in the Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro. Anyone found guilty of using illegal drugs or anyone who facilitated or was complicit in their use must be punished.”

Following the Thursday meeting, the IOC – on Saturday – circulated a communiqué that reads:

“President of the Russian Olympic Committee (ROC) Alexander Zhukov has met International Olympic Committee (IOC) President Thomas Bach to discuss the findings of the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) Independent Commission Report. Following the meeting, the ROC with the full backing of IOC will undertake the following actions:

“1. Mr Zhukov, as ROC President, informed the IOC President that in order to ensure the participation of the clean Russian athletes at the Olympic Games Rio de Janeiro 2016, the ROC will coordinate all efforts in Russia to address the issues mentioned in the Independent Commission Report with a view to make RUSADA, the anti-doping laboratory in Moscow and the National Athletics Federation (ARAF) compliant with the WADA code and all other international anti-doping regulations as soon as possible; 2. To achieve this, the Russian Olympic Committee will ensure the coordination of the already ongoing thorough investigation by the national authorities in Russia with respective international organisations, including WADA and the International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF); 3. The ROC will initiate the renewal and reform of the National Athletics Federation (ARAF). To achieve this: All officials, coaches, etc., implicated in doping will be held responsible and sanctioned; · All doped athletes will be sanctioned in accordance with international antidoping regulations; All clean athletes will be protected. 4. Mr Zhukov, on behalf of the ROC, renewed his strong support of the decision taken at the Olympic Summit on 17 October to make the anti-doping system independent from sports organisations and to request that WADA take over this function as soon as possible.”

This story first appeared in the blog, The Sport Intern. The editor is Karl-Heinz Huba of Lorsch, Germany. He can be reached at [email protected]. The article is reprinted here with permission of Huba.

Olympic Games and FIFA World Cup voted most impactful major events for young people

By
U.S. Sports Academy
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0

Good news for the IOC and FIFA in wake of current and recent sporting scandals, with a YouGov poll finding that sports blockbusters such as the Olympic Games and FIFA World Cup make the biggest impression on young people . The survey results found that almost 9 in 10 young people surveyed say the Olympics or FIFA World Cup made the biggest impression in the past four years. The survey found however that young people are in fact more interested in arts and culture events (six in 10) than sporting occasions (four in 10). More young people surveyed also wanted more extreme sports such as skateboarding to be included at future major sporting events. This is also good news for IOC and Tokyo 2020 organisers which have shortlisted skateboarding, along with baseball and softball, surfing and other youth focussed sports for possible inclusion at the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games.

The survey forms the basis of a widely anticipated new report on future directions for major events and host cities, entitled ‘Next Generation Events’ which will be released at this week’s Host Cities Dubai, Embracing Future Events conference, starting tomorrow (Wednesday). The report provides some important clues in bidding for major international sporting events such as the 2024 Olympic Games and other major sporting and cultural events, especially for potential host city governments, planners and investors. The key findings of ‘Next Generation Events’ report, which looks at future directions for major events from the perspective of young people, a key target audience of the IOC’s Agenda 2020 reforms, include:

● Big sporting spectaculars such as the Olympic Games, and FIFA World Cup, still make the biggest impression and impact on the majority of young people surveyed, which is positive outcome for IOC, FIFA, sponsors, and events organisers for whom young people are key targets for sponsor products, broadcast and on-line audiences, and ticket sales.

● Young people however are more interested in arts, culture, and music festivals, highlighting the range of potential events that cities could look to host beyond major sporting events, and the importance of Olympic education, arts and culture festivals to engage young people in the Olympic movement and values.

● Young people rank cities that are bidding, planning or which have staged the Olympic Games, including London, New York, Paris, Beijing, Tokyo, Los Angeles, Rio and Sydney, very highly as leading host cities.

● Young people want to see more extreme, adrenaline sports, including skateboarding in Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games.

● While the costs of hosting major events is a concern, most young people believe events create positive social and economic legacies for cities. This is good news for IOC and other peak international multi sport peak governing bodies for whom sustainable host city legacies have become central to the costs and benefits of staging such events; it also highlights importance of enlisting the support of young people and their businesses and networks in support of plans and visions to host major events.

● Young people want to see more established events hosted in new territories and markets.

This is also good news for cities in emerging markets such as middle east hoping to stage more major events, and highlights the importance of securing the support of young people in the bidding process to stage major events. The research points towards future growth in mass participation events, extreme sports, and the convergence of sport and entertainment – with culture and music festivals revolving around traditional sporting occasions. Zafar Shah, Research Manager, comments: “Major events live long in the memory and provide moments we never forget. They entertain, educate and inspire us – and they bring us together. What this study shows is that in the future, what sets events apart will be their ability to embrace emerging trends in preference, utilise new technology and envisage different, more engaging formats that win over a more switched-on and demanding audience.” The findings will be discussed at the Host Cities 2015 in Dubai on Wednesday and Thursday this week, with industry experts gathering at Fairmont the Palm under the theme ‘Embracing Future Events’ to identify trends in strategies for bids, engagement, sponsorship and funding that can be applied to different event types, budgets, cultures and geographies. High-profile speakers include senior representatives from Facebook, Tokyo 2020, Barclays, the Los Angeles Sports Council, PGA European Tour and the International Olympic Committee (IOC); London 2012 Olympic Games Sports Director, Debbie Jevans, London 2012 Communications Director, Jackie Brock-Doyle, IAAF President Seb Coe, and former London 2012 Olympic Games Minister, Sir Hugh Robertson, as well as prominent local figures from the Dubai Sports Council and Dubai’s Department of Tourism and Commerce; and sports personalities.

By Michael Pirrie

This story first appeared in the blog, The Sport Intern. The editor is Karl-Heinz Huba of Lorsch, Germany. He can be reached at [email protected]. The article is reprinted here with permission of Huba.

Russian NOC has been a strong and loyal proponent of the Olympic Movement

By
U.S. Sports Academy
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0

Stating that the Russian NOC has been a strong and loyal proponent of the Olympic Movement, EOC President Hickey following the WADA Independent Commission’s report is urging Russia “to leave no stone unturned in their mission to become WADA Code compliant”. Hickey said in a statement, circulated on Monday: “The findings of the WADA Independent Commission’s report are of course deeply troubling to all of us in the sports community. Clearly there is a need for reform in Russia’s anti-doping programme, but I have every confidence that Russia has the will and the resources to implement that reform in the required time.

“This is all the more important because the Russian Olympic Committee has been a strong and loyal proponent of the Olympic Movement in Europe and globally. So I urge that after this report Russia leaves no stone unturned in their mission to become WADA Code compliant. We have seen that other large countries who have had problems with doping in the past have since become world-leaders in the global fight against drugs in sport. Russia also has the capacity to lead from the front in the future.

“I will meet Alexander Zhukov, the ROC President, during the EOC’s General Assembly in Prague this week. I will take this opportunity to reiterate my concern at the findings of the report, but also to pledge the EOC’s total support to the ROC as they lead and coordinate the fight against doping in Russia. I hope Russia takes this opportunity to cooperate with the relevant international anti-doping authorities so that we can see clean Russian track and field athletes representing a clean Russian athletics federation at the start line in Rio.”

This story first appeared in the blog, The Sport Intern. The editor is Karl-Heinz Huba of Lorsch, Germany. He can be reached at [email protected]. The article is reprinted here with permission of Huba.

Commonwealth Court of Pennsylvania Decision concerning pension: Sandusky

By
Dr. Fred Cromartie
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The fight over the retirement benefits for Gerald A. and Dorothy D. Sandusky has been decided. We are fully aware of the vile acts that Coach Sandusky did and was convicted of, well you should also be aware that the Commonwealth Court for the state of Pennsylvania ordered that the state restore his monthly pension.  His pension was taken away three years ago when he was sentenced to 30 to 60 years in prison for sexually abusing 10 boys.

According the associated press “A Commonwealth Court panel ruled unanimously that the State Employees’ Retirement Board wrongly concluded Sandusky was a Penn State employee when he committed the crimes of indecent assault and involuntary deviate sexual intercourse, which were the basis for the pension forfeiture.”

Additionally; “The board conflated the requirements that Mr. Sandusky engage in ‘work relating to’ PSU and that he engage in that work ‘for’ PSU,” wrote Judge Dan Pellegrini. “Mr. Sandusky’s performance of services that benefited PSU does not render him a PSU employee.”

The case dealt with the fact that when Sandusky retired from his position as assistant coach in 1999, he collected a lump sum of $148,000 from the board, and began receiving monthly payments of $4,900, and after his conviction in October 2012 the retirement board ended all payments based on the citation of a provision in the state Pension Forfeiture Act that applies to “crimes related to public office or public employment.”

The judges said the board’s characterization of Sandusky as a Penn State employee at the time those offenses occurred was erroneous because he did not maintain an employer-employee relationship with the university after 1999.

The judge’s in their ruling ordered the board to reinstate his pension retroactively and pay interest for the 3 years of lost payments.  There was no mention of how much he could receive in back payments and interest.

Reference 

Ex-Coach Jerry Sandusky should get his public pension back: Court (2015, Nov 13). Associated Press. Retrieved from http://www.nbcnews.com/business/retirement/ex-coach-jerry-sandusky-should-get-his-public-pension-back-n462961

Fred Cromartie, Ed. D.

Dr. Cromartie is the Director of Doctoral Studies at the United States Sports Academy. He can be reached at [email protected] 

Dangers of Youth Sport Specialization

By
U.S. Sports Academy
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Remember the David Winfield’s? The Bo Jacksons? Remember the three-sport athlete? There was a time where athletes only played football during the fall, basketball during the winter, baseball was only played during the spring and summer seasons, and every other sport participation tied into their respected seasons. It was a time where youth athletes were forced to place their bodies under a variety of physiological demands stemmed from multiple sport participation. This resulted in proper development of their neurological and muscular systems with minimal asymmetries and imbalances due to overuse movements.

Then Anders Ericcson published a paper in 1993 presenting the world with the “10,000 hour rule” where he stated that it takes 10,000 hours of deliberate practice in order to master a skill.

In the decade to follow, parents began making a shift towards specializing in a single sport in hopes that their child will master thee sport and go on to become professionals.

But…at what cost?

It has been well documented in sports science research that children are very adaptable – both physically and mentally. Scientists constantly state that emphasis that youth physical development be focused on mastering fundamental movements and overall biological development before specification (1). Allowing a child to experience various training stimuli that can later have a positive impact on physical performance and health-related issues.

Youth sport specialization are only exposing their bodies to one constant stimuli. See it as sports are asymmetrical (over usage of one component such as a quarterback’s throwing arm, a baseball/softball player’s rotation in a swing, or a soccer player kicking with the dominate leg), the youth athlete begins creating biomechanical dysfunctions that are escalated with the onset of puberty.

Individuals may argue with the concept of “jack of all trades, but masters of none”. However, the need to be a physiological jack of all trades is the prerequisite towards the ability to master one.

You need to be able and agile in all directions before mastering the 100 meter run.

So how much harm does sport specialization do for youth athletes?

Look at the research:

“Sports injuries are the second leading cause of visits to the emergency room for children and teens” (2)

“Children ages 5 through 14 make up 40% of sports related injuries treated in hospitals.” (2)

“Overuse is the main cause of injury in young athletes, and makes up about half of all sports injuries.” (2)

The number one risk factor of overuse injuries in children?

“Sport specialization at a young age” (3)

With research proving the risks involved with sport specialization at a young age. It is critical that youth athletes’ engaging in a single sport undergo a tailored strength and conditioning program aimed at developing proper kinematics that are sacrificed through the repetitive motions of a single sport. The youth strength and conditioning coach should fixate on development of the child’s motor control, neuromuscular system, and proprioception awareness.

Youth athletes’ lacking this component, risk continuous chronic injuries throughout their adolescent years.

References

  1. Lloyd, R., & Oliver, J. (Eds.). (2014). Strength and conditioning for young athletes science and application. New York, New York: Routledge.
  1. McFadden, M. (2014, July 30). Increasing injuries in young athletes. Retrieved from http://www.wndu.com/news/specialreports/headlines/Increasing-injuries-in-young-athletes-269264321.html
  1. Kids’ Sports Injuries – the Numbers are Impressive. (n.d.). Retrieved from http://www.nationwidechildrens.org/kids-sports-injuries-numbers-are-impressive

Coach Adamek is the head strength and conditioning coach at Magnus: Expand Human Potential, a leading fitness facility located at CourtSense in New Jersey. He has worked with a number of Professional, Olympian, and top collegiate athletes as well as countless top junior’s in the world.

Russian Sports Ministry urges WADA to focus “on real facts and evidence” as fails to deal with key findings of damning report

By
U.S. Sports Academy
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0

Russia’s Ministry of Sport has urged the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) to focus on “real facts and evidence” in an attempt to deflect accusations presented in today’s Independent Commission Report, leaving the country facing the prospect of being banned from next year’s Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro.

In a lengthy statement this evening, the Ministry claimed the recommendations made by the three-man Commission led by Canada’s International Olympic Committee member Richard Pound will help Russia to improve their anti-doping system in the “near future”.

They vowed to “carefully study all the decisions and facts on which this report was made, and fulfill the appropriate measures”.

The statement, the first official Government response following today’s allegations the state-sponsored Federal Security Service (FSB) were complicit in enforcing a culture of “systemic doping”, claimed, however, there “is a big difference between information that journalists provide and proven facts and evidence which naturally an investigation such as this should be based on”.

It added: “So, we urge WADA to rely on the real facts and evidence.

“We are not surprised by most of the points in the report.

“We are fully aware of the problems in the All-Russia Athletic Federation (ARAF) and we have undertaken measures to remedy the situation.

“There is a new President in ARAF, a new head coach, and they are currently rejuvenating the coaching staff.

“The Ministry of Sport of the Russian Federation is waiting for such measures from IAAF (International Association of Athletics Federations), where the new President [Sebastian Coe] also has zero-tolerance for doping.”

The statement added that Russia acts on the basis of the UNESCO Convention, claiming, “in the short-term, Russia has created a strong legal basis to fight against doping”.

In the face of 323 pages of damning evidence in the report, the Russian defence appears increasingly out-of-touch and at odds with the findings, however.

In particular, the view that the new ARAF President Vadim Zelichenok has a “zero tolerance” approach contrasts harshly with the report’s claim that he refused to cooperate with the investigators and tried to stop the Independent Commission interview Russian athletes.

The report recommended ARAF be suspended from the IAAF until positive and significant progress is made, something Pound predicted would take at least three months but would probably be achieved before Rio 2016.

Tonight’s stringent denial and refusal to cooperate suggests this could take longer, casting doubt as to whether it will have been lifted by next August’s Olympics.

The Ministry of Sport was cited in the report as being complicit in the cover-up and calls are growing for the removal of Sports Minister Vitaly Mutko, who is also a member of the FIFA Executive Committee and head of the Organising Committee for the 2018 World Cup.

“In our conclusion it was not possible for him [Mutko] to be unaware of what was happening,” said Pound today.

“And if he was aware, then he was complicit – that is our inference from the evidence we were able to look at.”

A spokesman for FIFA’s Ethics Committee has pledged to “carefully analyse the findings of the report”, to ascertain if he violated any codes of conduct.

By Nick Butler; this article was republished with permission from the original publisher Inside the Games www.insidethegames.biz

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