The World Anti-Doping Agency’s new chief investigator has accused Russian athletes of displaying arrogance during the body’s investigation that uncovered state-sponsored doping, saying some refused to even answer questions.
The International Olympic Committee was due to confirm last night the final list of Russians allowed to compete in Rio following WADA’s explosive July report which found rampant doping among Russian athletes.
Gunter Younger, who will take up the role of WADA’s new director of intelligence and investigations in October, said some of the athletes questioned had shown contempt for the probe.
“During the investigation into Russia, the huge frustration of the athletes surprised me,” the German Younger told SID, an AFP subsidiary.
“They were frustrated that nothing was happening, although some had testified.
“Then, there were some athletes and officials who were arrogant during the interviews. They sat back and didn’t want to answer questions.
“That’s something which particularly annoys police, when some people believe they are above the law,” added Younger, currently a senior police officer in Munich.
The 48-year-old, who previously led Interpol’s anti-doping section, believes there are more drug cheats out there that he hopes to expose when he takes up his post with the Montreal-based WADA on October 3.
“The work done by the independent WADA commission regarding Russia has shown that there’s more potential,” he said. Numerous Russian sports stars, including their entire track and field squad, have been barred from the Games following last month’s report by Canadian lawyer Richard McLaren.
Federations have ruled out at least 119 of the 387 names proposed by the Russian Olympic Committee, according to an AFP count.
The extent of doping in Russian athletics was first exposed in 2014 by Vitaly Stepanov and his wife Yuliya Stepanova, an 800-metre runner.
Younger praised the conduct of Yuliya Stepanova, who has been excluded from the Rio Games over drugs, during WADA’s investigation.
“Yuliya Stepanova impressed me. I talked a lot with her,” he said.
“She loves the sport above everything and, with her husband, has taken a stand against doping.
“She decided to not only stay drug-free, but has rebelled against a complete system, left their country and her family to try to make the sport clean.
“I find that remarkable,” Younger added. Olympic officials earlier yesterday cleared about 270 Russian athletes to compete at the Rio Olympics, just one day before the opening ceremony, the TASS news agency reported, citing the head of the Russian Olympic Committee. Russian boxers, tennis players, judokas and shooters were among those given the last-minute approval by an International Olympic Committee panel set up to review the eligibility of all Russian athletes previously cleared to compete by their international federations.