MOSCOW, December 15. /TASS/. Anti-doping organizations, collaborating with the International Testing Agency (ITA), have collected more than 1,000 samples on the territory of Russia and Belarus in 2023, the press service of the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) has told TASS.

"Russian athletes remain subject to testing. Athletes in the appropriate registered testing pools continue to provide their whereabouts information so that out-of-competition testing can take place. This year so far, RUSADA has collected more than 10,500 samples from Russian athletes. Most of the tests have been out of competition and they also include athletes in the so-called ‘closed cities,’" WADA said in a statement.

"As there is no WADA-accredited laboratory in Russia, the samples - both blood and urine - are transported with a strict chain of custody to multiple labs outside the country, mainly in Europe. Any adverse analytical findings are being actioned and are being monitored by WADA. In addition, Anti-Doping Organizations, including those whose programs are implemented by the ITA, have been able to collect more than 1,000 samples within Russia and Belarus this year, delivering them to WADA-accredited laboratories outside the country. Also, they are ensuring that athletes from Russia who are training in other countries are also being tested according to the relevant test distribution plans," it said.

WADA announced on September 22 that RUSADA was non-compliant with the World Anti-Doping Code, due to non-conformities relating to national legislation.

RUSADA Director General Veronika Loginova told TASS on October 13 that the agency had submitted a notification to WADA on refusal to accept the statement on non-compliance to the World Anti-Doping Code. WADA announced the intention to uphold its justice at the Court of Arbitration for Sport on the same day.