IAAF must implement immediate action concerning Russian doping, says David Grace QC

Athletics Australia President David Grace QC will ask the IAAF to implement immediate action to examine more broadly the latest revelations concerning the doping of Russian race walkers.

“It seems extraordinary to us that as a result of doping infractions Sergey Kirdyapkin can be ineligible for periods immediately before and after the London Olympics but not so during it,” Grace said.

“We will be asking the IAAF to conduct a full investigation into the validity of Kirdyapkin’s participation in the 50km walk in London where he defeated silver medallist Jared Tallent by less than a minute. The full circumstances of his pre-Games doping offence and subsequent imposition of penalty need to be fully disclosed.”

Athletics Australia will also ask the IAAF to review whether it continues to be appropriate for the Russian city of Cheboksary to remain the host of the next two editions, in 2016 and 2018, of the World Race Walking Cup which in the future is to be known as the World Race Walking Team Championships.

“As we now know when another Russian city Saransk hosted the event in 2012 the two home team athletes who crossed the line ahead of Jared were cheating by doping. Whilst the gold medal he Jared will now receive is some consolation for him, for us it does not seem appropriate for the event to return to Russia for two consecutive editions when so much cloud hangs over the delivery of race walking events in that country and in the preparation of its own athletes to take part in them.

“We are sure that the IAAF Council took that decision in good faith at the time but now circumstances have changed and that means they should take a fresh look at it.”

Grace said that it was opportune that members of the senior hierarchy of the IAAF would be in Australia at the beginning of February for the Oceania Area Congress.

“This will give us the chance to personally express our concerns and request action.”

The above statement follows the revelation yesterday that a further five Russian race walkers have been suspended for doping, with the suspensions confirmed directly impacting the result of three-time Olympic medallist Jared Tallent. Details on this are available via ABC Onlinehere.

The current statement from the IAAF on the issue is available here.