WADA commission to check allegations of doping in Russia raised in new ARD film

MOSCOW, June 14. /TASS/. An independent commission of the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) will investigation new allegations of doping abuse in Russia raised in last week’s documentary run by the German TV broadcaster ARD, the WADA press service said on Tuesday.

"WADA is concerned by the new matters raised in last week's ARD documentary. All the appropriate information has been passed on to Professor. Richard McLaren who is leading an independent investigation into further allegations of doping in Russia," the press service told TASS.

"We are told by the Russian Ministry of Sport that the allegations contained within the program are being investigated by the Russian law enforcement agencies. WADA looks forward to learning of the outcome of this investigation, which will also be passed on to Professor. McLaren’s Investigation team to follow up as appropriate," WADA said.

The latest documentary by the German TV broadcaster ARD about doping in Russian sports, which was aired late Wednesday night, contained charges made by former chief of the Moscow anti-doping laboratory, Grigory Rodchenkov. He had sent to the filmmaker, Hajo Zeppelt, a document accusing Natalya Zhelanova (an anti-doping advisor to the Russian sports minister) of meddling in the operation of the anti-doping laboratory and disrupting plans for the control of biathletes and skiers. The film’s authors claim that Zhelanova had allegedly conducted negotiations with members of the International Association of Athletic Federations over bribes with the aim of concealing doping abuse by Russian athletes. Also, the film contained a video recording (according to Zeppelt made in 2015) in which Rodchenkov claims that for concealing each positive doping test of a Russian athlete, including those at the London Olympics, up to €500,000 was paid to the IAAF.