WADA building Russia cases, hopes to finish before 2020

MONTREAL (AP) — Doping officials are using recently gained data from Moscow’s anti-doping laboratory to build “strong” cases against Russian athletes and expect analysis of the information to be completed by the end of the year.

Gunter Younger, the director of investigations for the World Anti-Doping Agency, told WADA’s foundation board Thursday that his office has “started preparing a number of strong cases” to be passed on to international sports federations, which will decide whether to seek sanctions.

WADA gained access to the Moscow lab in January, after cutting a deal with the Russians to reinstate their banned anti-doping agency in exchange for the data. Last month, WADA also received urine samples that matched up with data on the cases it could pursue.

The cases stem from an investigation that found a widespread, state-sponsored conspiracy designed to help Russia win medals at the 2014 Sochi Olympics and other major competitions.