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Doping chief complains of bullying

By Daily Sports on October 13, 2018

The chair of the World Anti-Doping Agency’s (Wada) Athlete Committee says some of the organisation’s most senior officials tried to “bully” her over her opposition to Russian reinstatement.

Beckie Scott told the BBC she was “treated with disrespect” at a recent meeting and faced “inappropriate” comments and gestures from some members of Wada’s executive committee.

The Canadian former Olympic cross-country skiing champion resigned from a Wada panel last month in protest at its highly controversial recommendation to end the suspension of Russia from international competition after a state-sponsored doping scandal.

In her first interview since stepping down, Scott said the treatment she faced was “indicative of a general attitude of dismissal and belittling of the athlete voice”.

In a statement, Wada admitted “tensions were running high” at last month’s meeting, and that the strong views on both sides of the debate “do affect the tone and atmosphere” but “the athletes’ voice was clearly heard”.

It said Scott’s concerns “were being taken seriously”.

Scott, who is a former IOC member and one of the most high-profile athletes in the anti-doping movement, says she resigned because she “fundamentally disagreed” with her colleagues on the CRC.

“I felt it was a compromise,” she said.

“I don’t think it was acceptable to clean athletes, especially in light of the affront to clean sport that had taken place.

“It was an altering of a ‘roadmap’ that was established by Wada in order to regain compliance.

And it was basically a reversal of the conditions, so compliance was established before conditions had been met.

“I think from an athletes’ perspective that is such an affront because no-one is altering rules and regulations to ensure athletes reach their goals or achieve their results.” (BBC)

•Photo shows Beckie Scott

Source Daily Sports

Posted October 13, 2018

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