WASHINGTON (AFP) - A state-backed doping scheme by Russia at the 2014 Sochi Winter Olympics outlined in a report Monday (July 18) revealed "a mind-blowing level of corruption," US Anti-Doping Agency chief executive Travis T. Tygart said.
A World Anti-Doping Agency report unveiled by Canadian attorney Richard McLaren found that Russian secret service and sport leaders switched sample contents and made some doping samples disappear, to allow Russian dope cheats to compete at Sochi.
"The McLaren Report has concluded, beyond a reasonable doubt, a mind-blowing level of corruption within both Russian sport and government that goes right to the field of play," Tygart said.
"And most importantly, our hearts go out to athletes from all over the world who were robbed of their Olympic dreams.
"Looking forward, we must come to come together as an international community - comprised of those who truly believe in the spirit of Olympism - to ensure this unprecedented level of criminality never again threatens the sports we cherish."
