MOSCOW, March 11. The Executive Committee of the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) expressed concern about holding the Friendship Games in Russia, since the tournament will not be held under the protection of the World Anti-Doping Code, the organization said in a release.
A meeting of the WADA Executive Committee took place on March 11 in Lausanne. The World Friendship Games will be held from September 15 to 29, 2024 in Moscow and Yekaterinburg. They include competitions in 33 summer sports. The capital will host tournaments in 28 sports, and the Urals will host competitions in swimming, diving, synchronized swimming, judo, athletics and basketball (among women's teams). The prize fund of the competition should be 4.6 billion rubles.
“As for other multi-sport events, members of the executive committee, including representatives of athletes, the sports movement and governments around the world, expressed their concern about Russia’s plans to hold the Friendship Games — an “unsanctioned event” — in September 2024. In particular, concerns are raised about the fact that «that because this event will not be held under the protection of the World Anti-Doping Code, the health of athletes and fairness for them may be compromised,» the statement said.
«WADA urges all signatories to the code to exercise caution and not legitimize this event, as the agency cannot vouch for an anti-doping program that may or may not be implemented. This position is reinforced by the fact that the Russian Anti-Doping Agency (RUSADA) is currently does not comply with the code, there is no WADA-accredited laboratory in Russia, and overall confidence in the anti-doping system in Russia remains low,” the statement notes.
Formerly Director of the International Olympic Committee (IOC) Department for Relations with National Olympic Committees (NOCs) James McLeod said the IOC is asking NOCs of various countries to «exercise caution in relation to the World Friendship Games.» The head of WADA, Witold Banka, noted that the possible participation of signatories of the WADA code in the Friendship Games could entail consequences.
In January, the Foreign Intelligence Service (SVR) of Russia, citing the director of the service, Sergei Naryshkin, reported that, in an attempt to maintain dominance in sports, The United States is increasingly trying to disrupt sporting events organized in Russia. It was noted that the main hopes rest on WADA and its president Banka personally. The SVR release stated that “the Americans proceed from the fact that Banka is interested in successfully continuing his career after the expiration of his term at WADA in 2025 and, in order to get a “warm place,” will serve as their “watchdog.”