nope wrote:
TrackCoach wrote:It just so happens that I am a person who understands the AD game much better than most. Perhaps you are misunderstanding my statement. Basically, what I am saying is that the IAAF does not do drug testing, they simply receive results and take the next step in determining how it will affect an athlete's participation in IAAF events. Btw, the UKAD and USADA budget is nearly 2/3rds the size WADA and any British or American athlete cover up would have to involve the national federations. With that said, WADA does not have confidence in RUSADA and does not rely on that federation, which is what makes it possible for a Russian cover up, but unlikely for a British or American athlete cover up.
Just so everyone is clear, this is really wrong. The IAAF absolutely conducts its own tests. In 2014, it conducted 3,800 tests according to WADA. (Page 6 in section 3 here:
https://wada-main-prod.s3.amazonaws.com/wada_2014_anti-doping-testing-figures_full-report_en.pdf) In the same period USADA conducted 7,000 tests, for reference.
And the broader point that you're making, that it's difficult for the IAAF to cover up tests, is also wrong. Anti-doping agencies like USADA have reporting requirements: when an athlete tests positive, the lab that records that test must send the result back to USADA, WADA, and the sport's governing body. (IAAF in the case of someone like Mo Farah.) With so many people getting the result, it becomes harder to bury a positive test. But the IAAF does not have a reporting requirement, as far as I know, which makes it VERY EASY to do exactly what's has been alleged in the Russian article—cover up a test by a big-name runner.
But you don't have to trust me. This is almost exactly what happened with Lilyia Shobukhova, and it's why there have been recent articles about WADA taking over drug testing from governing bodies. I obviously have no idea whether the IAAF covered up positive tests for Mo, but not only is it possible for them to have done so, there's good precedent for it.
I stand corrected; thanks for the info. I always thought for 1st world countries the national federations conducted their own test and test on behalf of WADA and the IAAF simply received reports. As a former coach, I've never had an athlete take an IAAF drug test, it was either USADA or WADA. The IAAF certainly does not do OOC testing because I've never heard an athlete say the IAAF knocked at their door. - If you understand the chain of custody, I still say its not easy to cover up a UK or USA positive.