2015: International Athletics' Year of Doping Scandals

A special committee from WADA (World Anti-Doping Agency) has uncovered serious transgressions by Russia

Several scandals have emerged in the athletics world in 2015, with both governing body IAAF and several independent athletes under the scanner for what sources (and several authorities) allege is an evidentially supported involvemenet in doping.

The athletics world became shrouded in controversy when, earlier this year, English newspaper The Times said it had been given data by an anonymous whistleblower, examined by its own panel of forensic experts, that allegedly proved several IAAF athletes who participated in the London Marathon had done so under the influence of performance-enhancing drugs, putting the results of the marathon into question.

At the time, authorities behind the marathon had responded saying it had a “strict no-tolerance policy” against doping, but the doubt had already been cast. Organi

This August, the IAAF released a statement rejecting the allegations outright, although suspicion has persisted ever since.

Several of athletics’ most iconic names came into the spotlight as a result – among them Justin Gatlin, Usain Bolt and Mo Farah.

Farah and American Olympic athlete Galen Rupp came under immense scrutiny after their coach, seasoned marathon champion Alberto Salazar, was subject to a BBC investigation alleging he had been involved in the doping of several athletes who trained under him at the Nike Experience Project, of which several runners – including American marathon icon Kara Goucher and her husband were a part.

Salazar’s second-in-command and several athletes who trained under him bore testament to the allegations, with Salazar issuing several denials. The accusations also led at the time to Farah withdrawing from competition for a short period, as UK athletics conducted their own independent investigation against the athlete.

During these investigations, it was revealed Farah had also missed two drug tests prior to the 2012 London Olympics, where he won Gold.

Although he was eventually exonerated, Farah went on to say that the accusations had taken a toll on his physical and mental health.

Gatlin and Bolt went on to be cleared as well, but organisers of several events – most notably the London Marathon, criticised the IAAF for what they described as a significant “lack of transparency” in dealing with samples.

Now, it has emerged that the World Anti Doping Agency (WADA) have mounted a full-blown investigation into allegations of doping by a number of Russian athletes – doping the independent body says were “state-sanctioned”. According to the investigation, the drug use had not only been ‘systematic’, but samples that had been cleared in Moscow over the years had passed through labs that, as per the report had “zero credibility.”

Former WADA head Richard Pound was at the helm of the investigation, and described the team’s findings as “worse than we thought” and “pretty shocking.” The panel has recommended that Russia be suspended by the IAAF from all international competition with immediate effect.

IAAF President Lord Sebastian Coe has now responded to the WADA panel, saying the organisation had given Russia until the end of the week to address the allegations in the report, although Russia’s sports minister Vitaly Mutko has claimed the incident is an attempt to malign Russia politically.

Top officials from the World Anti-Doping Agency will meet in the United States of America to figure out a new course of action against Russia.

The country has been under the scanner since last year, however, when a German television documentary alleged that as many as 99% of athletes had been involved in serious doping, and that high-ranking officials had been accepting bribes to provide athletes with banned substances, and hide results that proved athletes had been using.

Russia does not have a clean slate – 2010 London Marathon winner Liliya Shibulkova confessed to the makers of the programme that she had been using performance-enhancing drugs ahead of her participation, and admits paying the Russian Athletics Federation €450,000 to cover up a positive doping test.

She is far from alone – discus thrower Yevgeniya Pecherina also admitted that several athletes were using drugs, telling the BBC ”anything an athlete wants” is available. Currently serving a 10-year ban for doping in 2013, Pecherina had earlier been handed a 2-year suspension for a similar offense.

Although officials from the country – including its President Vladimir Putin – have strenuously denied claims, Russia’s record appears to speak for itself.

Doping may be a recurrent feature in the athletics world – but it appears that 2015 has been one of its darkest years.