Russian anti-doping agency banned for breaking Wada code

Calls to extend investigation to other countries and sports

Reading Time:2 minutes

The Olympic flag and the Russian flag during the Closing Ceremony of the Sochi 2014 Olympic Games in Russia. Photo: EPA

Published: 9:33am, 19 Nov 2015Updated: 9:33am, 19 Nov 2015

The World Anti-Doping Agency continued to crack down on Russia drug cheats on Wednesday by suspending the country's anti-doping agency amid calls to extend investigations to other countries and sports.

The decision to suspend the Russian Anti-Doping Agency for non-compliance had the full support of Wada's foundation board and follows the international anti-doping commission's report that detailed a widespread doping scandal in the country.

Pavel Kolobkov Deputy Minister of Sport Russian Federation shakes hands with Dick Pound after a World Anti-Doping Agency (press conference on November 18, 2015 in Colorado Springs. Photo: AFP

A Moscow lab which processed blood and urine samples from Russian athletes on behalf of the Russian athletics federation had already been decertified and handed a six-month provisional suspension.

A Wada disciplinary committee was appointed to look at a the possible longer suspension or recertification.

READ MORE: Click here for all our coverage of the athletics doping scandal

Dick Pound, the author of the report that detailed anti-doping corruption in Russia, prepares during a break in a meeting of the World Anti-Doping Agency in Colorado Springs. Photo: AP

Former Wada president Dick Pound, who headed the independent commission, said the probe found cover-ups, bribes to conceal positive tests, destruction of samples and evidence of Russian state security services of colluding with the country's athletics federation to enable athletes to freely dope.