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GOVERNANCE AND STRATEGY

A snapshot of recent important governance and strategic issues which have an impact on the integrity of the sport of athletics. 

AIU WELCOMES IAAF COUNCIL DECISION ON NEW OUT-OF-COMPETITION FUNDING MECHANISM FOR ROAD RUNNING 

The AIU welcomed the IAAF Council decision to approve a new concept for their IAAF Road Race Label Events from 2020, which will see the introduction of a funding mechanism for out-of-competition (OOC) testing focused on a large pool of professional road runners. The landmark decision in the drive for clean sport will ensure that the IAAF Road Race Label Events, athletes and athlete representatives, help fund an extensive intelligence-led testing programme. This is one of the few examples in sports, where private entities have come together to make a tangible financial contribution to set up an integrity programme. As well as being an excellent innovation for the sport of athletics as whole, the IAAF and members of the road running industry deserve credit for underlining their commitment to clean sport by responding to the identified risks and taking this proactive measure.

Besides testing, the funds raised will also be used to develop intelligence and investigations, results management, case litigation, and education schemes. The programme will start in November 2019 with extensive education sessions for road runners, who are new or recent additions to the IAAF Registered Athlete Pool, in Kenya and Ethiopia.

UPDATE ON MOSCOW LABORATORY DATA AND ONGOING CAS CASES

The AIU confirmed that it had received from the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) the data from the Laboratory Information Management System (LIMS) of the Moscow Laboratory in respect of samples analysed in athletics during the period 2012 to August 2015. The data package handed over to AIU representatives on 18 June contained approximately 110,000 computer files in total and was said to include all underlying analytical results and raw data generated from analysis of the samples. The AIU put together a team of experts and started analysing the LIMS data immediately with a view to reporting its findings to the IAAF Russia Taskforce and the IAAF Council in due course.

In the previous edition of Athletics Integrity Watch, we advised that CAS had sanctioned twelve Russian athletes at first instance for anti-doping rule violations based on evidence from the McLaren report into doping in Russia.  Five of the twleve athletes have appealed their decisions at first instance, and the appeals are ongoing before CAS.  The AIU continues in the meantime to review all evidence available to it and, since the last edition of the newsletter, has issued charges against one further Russian athlete. Other potential cases are under review.

CASES UPDATE​

Some key decisions listed here demonstrate the AIU's capability and commitment to investigating and prosecuting important cases. The AIU believes proactive public communication about these cases enhances the reputation of athletics for integrity and transparency. 

RUSSIAN RACE WALKER BAKULIN BANNED FOR EIGHT YEARS

The IAAF Disciplinary Tribunal has banned Russian race walker Sergey Bakulin for eight-years with effect from 3 April 2019.  The 32-year-old has been sanctioned for a second anti-doping rule violation for abnormalities in his athlete biological passport (ABP) data. Bakulin was previously disqualified in January 2015 for three years and two months beginning on 24 December 2012 for abnormalities in his ABP, and several of his results were annulled including a gold medal in 50km walk at the 2011 IAAF World Athletics Championships in Daegu. In March 2016, Bakulin's results from 25 February 2011 to 24 December 2012 were also disqualified following an appeal by the IAAF to CAS, including his sixth place at the 2012 Olympic Games in London.n.

US LONG JUMPER LAWSON BANNED FOR FOUR YEARS 

US long jumper and sprinter Jarrion Lawson has been suspended for four years after testing positive for the banned substance, Trenbolone, by the IAAF Disciplinary Tribunal. The AIU had provisionally suspended Lawson in August 2018 while the case was being adjudicated. The IAAF Disciplinary Tribunal, in making its decision, said Lawson had failed to prove how the substance entered his body to the requisite standard of proof.  The athlete has challenged the decision and the case is currently under appeal at CAS. ​

BAHRAINI SPRINTER ADEKOYA SANCTIONED 

The IAAF Disciplinary Tribunal has banned Oluwakemi Adekoya of Bahrain for four years with effect from 26 November 2018 after she tested positive for the banned steroid, Stanozolol. The former world indoor 400m champions's results have also been disqualified from 24 August 2018, including her gold medals at the 2018 Asian Games. 

CAS SANCTIONS QATAR’S BAALA FOR FOUR YEARS​

The Court of Arbitration for Sport banned Qatari middle-distance runner, Musaeb Abdulrahman Baala in June for four years from the date of the CAS decision with credit given for any provisional suspension served by him since 2016.  CAS upheld the IAAF's appeal and overturned a decision of the Qatar Athletics Federation Disciplinary Tribunal to exonerate the athlete of any wrongdoing. Baala was first charged by the IAAF in 2016 for the possession of prohibited substances found in his hotel room in Spain.​ ​

KENYA’S BIWOTT SUSPENDED FOR EIGHT YEARS

The AIU has banned the Kenyan long-distance runner Salome Jerono Biwott for eight years with effect from 5 June 2019.  Biwott, 36, tested positive for the banned substance Norandrosterone following a sample collected in April at the Sao Paulo International Marathon. She had previously served a two-year period of ineligibility from 25 January 2013 following a failed test in 2012.  ​

MEXICAN RACE WALKER ROMERO BANNED FOR FOUR YEARS

Mexican race walker  Maria Guadalupe Gonzalez has been given a four-year doping ban by the IAAF Disciplinary Tribunal for the presence and use of a prohibited substance, Trenbolone. Her ban began on 16 November 2018 and she has also had her results from 17 October 2018 annulled. Gonzalez was the Rio 2016 Olympic Games 20km race walk silver medallist and also finished second in the same event at the IAAF World Athletics Championships London 2017. Romero has appealed the Disciplinary Tribunal's decision to CAS.

RUSSIA'S DENMUKHAMETOV PROVISIONALLY SUSPENDED ON GROUNDS OF PROHIBITED ASSOCIATION

The AIU confirmed that the Russian 400m runner Artyom Denmukhametov has been charged with a breach of the IAAF Anti-Doping Rules on grounds of prohibited association with the banned Russian coach, Vladimir Kazarin. The charge followed an investigation conducted by the AIU with the Russian Anti-Doping Agency and the case is currently under process before the Disciplinary Tribunal.​

AIU BANS BAHRAIN’S EUNICE KIRWA FOR FOUR YEARS

The AIU has announced that Bahraini long-distance runner Eunice Jepkirui Kirwa has been sanctioned for violating the IAAF Anti-Doping Rules. The Rio 2016 Summer Olympics marathon silver medallist was handed a four-year ban from 7 May 2019 due to the presence and use of a prohibited substance, EPO, following an out-of-competition test. The athlete’s results since 1 April 2019 have also been annulled. 

ACTIVITIES UPDATE

IAAF WORLD ATHLETICS CHAMPIONSHIPS DOHA 2019 

Testing: The AIU, in partnership with the Doha 2019 Local Organising Committee, will deliver a comprehensive anti-doping programme at this year’s IAAF World Athletics Championships. This will involve the collection of over 700 blood samples prior to the championships for the purpose of continuing to build Athlete Biological Passport (ABP) profiles and to help detect prohibited substances, such as steroids, EPO or human Growth Hormone (hGH). Approximately 600 urine tests will also be conducted during the championships. 

Bet Monitoring: In partnership with the International Olympic Committee, the Group of Copenhagen (covering Europe), Sportradar and other stakeholders and partners, the AIU will be monitoring betting markets, identifying betting patterns and any betting anomalies. The programme will also facilitate the exchange of information in order to prevent or identify any market manipulation. 

Education & Outreach: The Qatar Anti-Doping Commission (QADC) and the AIU will organise a joint education and prevention outreach programme, the Athletics Integrity Hub, during the IAAF World Athletics Championships. The education programme, for athletes and support personnel, will be held at the team hotels and the competition venue. It will focus on creating awareness about the range of issues that impact the integrity of the sport of athletics such as doping, manipulation of competitions, betting/gambling as well as creating awareness of redressal mechanisms for issues such as harassment and abuse, including sexual harassment.

To create greater awareness amongst the athlete community of the need to speak out against doping and other forms of misconduct, the AIU in collaboration with the IAAF Athletes’ Commission will continue with the Athletes’ Integrity Pledge in multiple languages to be signed by competitors at a handful of locations. The AIU will also conduct stakeholder surveys as part of the outreach programme.

The AIU has prepared a basic educational leaflet (shown below) for both the athlete and the national federations to better understand the rules concerning Competition Manipulation and the ways of preventing it. National federations will be required to share the information with all of their athletes and officials participating in the championships.

NATIONAL FEDERATIONS OBLIGATIONS – IMPLEMENTATION

The National Federations Obligations (Rule 15 of the IAAF Anti-Doping Rules) came into force on 1 January 2019. The new rules make National Federations accountable for assisting in the fight against doping and for ensuring appropriate anti-doping measures are in place in their respective jurisdictions. 

The AIU has already observed significant improvements in the national anti-doping standards after just seven months of the implementation of this new rule. Moreover, monitoring the implementation of Rule 15 has also allowed the AIU to establish a much better link with the National Federations compared to what existed before. The AIU is now able to offer National Federations general advice and support when needed and is able to get a better overview of the anti-doping standards in individual countries. Given the scale of monitoring the implementation of the rules in 214 IAAF Member Federations, it is acknowledged that it will take a few years before the full impact of the Rule 15 can be truly observed. 

RECENT OUTREACH ACTIVITIES 

IAAF WORLD RELAYS YOKOHAMA 2019

In partnership with the Japan Anti-Doping Commission, the AIU organised a successful outreach programme for the participating athletes at the IAAF World Relays in Yokohama, Japan, on 11-12 May.

Athletes’ write their “True Sport” messages during the  IAAF World Relays in Yokohama.

NATIONAL LEVEL ANTI-DOPING EDUCATION - CHINA

The Chinese Athletics Association recently organised an anti-doping education program for the athletes and their support personnel. The huge attendance during the seminar is a great sign of increasing commitment to to the fight against doping and general misconduct in our sport.

Athletes attend an anti-doping education program held by the Chinese Athletics Association.

INDUSTRY ENGAGEMENT

The AIU board members and staff continue to represent athletics at key industry gatherings relating to sport integrity. Here is a quick snapshot of recent and forthcoming key speaking engagements:

IAAF Global Running Conference: The AIU was represented by Brett Clothier, Head of the AIU, at the IAAF Global Running Conference, held between 31 May and 1 June in Lanzhou, China. As part of his presentation, Brett discussed the integrity standards required to keep road running thriving and free from misconduct.

International Olympia Symposium: David Howman, Chairman of the AIU, shared his thoughts on the theme ‘Becoming an Olympic athlete without Doping’ during the International Olympia Symposium which was held on 24-25 June in Ancient Olympia, Greece. He also spoke about how the AIU is dealing with the many integrity issues that face athletics and athletes in 2019. 

Play the Games Conference:  David Howman, Chairman of the AIU, will be one of the key speakers during the annual Play the Games Conference to be held from 13-16 October in Colorado Springs, USA. 

World Conference on Doping in Sports: Brett Clothier, Head of the AIU, will be speaking during a plenary session titled ‘The Vision of Anti-Doping Community for the Future’ at the World Conference on Doping in Sports to be held from 5-7 November in Katowice, Poland. 

The Athletics Integrity Unit (AIU) is the independent body created by the IAAF that manages all integrity issues – both doping and non-doping – for the sport of athletics. The remit of the AIU includes anti-doping, the pursuit of individuals engaged in age or competition results manipulation, investigating fraudulent behaviour with regards to transfers of allegiance, and detecting other misconduct including bribery and breaches of betting rules. It is the AIU’s role to drive cheats out of our sport, and to do everything within its power to support honest athletes around the world who dedicate their lives to reaching their sporting goals through dedication and hard work. 

Athletics Integrity Unit
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