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Friday, March 29, 2024

Russia's anti-doping agency halts testing amid coronavirus outbreak

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Russia's anti-doping agency halts testing amid coronavirus outbreak
Russia's anti-doping agency halts testing amid coronavirus outbreak

Yuri Ganus, the head of the Russian Anti-Doping Agency RUSADA, says that testing has been suspended during the coronavirus crisis.

SHOWS: MOSCOW, RUSSIA (FILE - SEPTEMBER 20, 2018) (REUTERS - ACCESS ALL) 1.

VARIOUS OF EXTERIORS OF RUSADA OFFICE MOSCOW, RUSSIA (MARCH 27, 2020) (RUSADA HANDOUT - ACCESS ALL) 2.

(SOUNDBITE) (Russian) HEAD OF RUSSIAN ANTI-DOPING AGENCY, YURI GANUS, SAYING: "I want to inform you that despite the expansion of the coronavirus infection, RUSADA continues its work.

You can fully rely on us.

At the same time we of course are following the regime that has been established by the leadership of Russian Federation.

And at this time we have suspended testing." MOSCOW, RUSSIA (FILE - NOVEMBER 10, 2015) (REUTERS) 3.

ENTRANCE WITH LETTERING READING (Russian): 'ANTI-DOPING CENTRE' 4.

VARIOUS OF ANTI-DOPING LABORATORY EMPLOYEE SHOWING SAMPLE STORAGE MOSCOW, RUSSIA (MARCH 27, 2020) (RUSADA HANDOUT - ACCESS ALL) 5.

(SOUNDBITE) (Russian) HEAD OF RUSSIAN ANTI-DOPING AGENCY, YURI GANUS, SAYING: "RUSADA continues anti-doping support in a new remote mode.

And we will ensure full anti-doping support, you will get new modern remote means of education, training, informing and warning.

We are ready to continue our work with you and to support you remotely." MOSCOW, RUSSIA (FILE - NOVEMBER 10, 2015) (REUTERS) 6.

ANTI-DOPING LABORATORY EMPLOYEE SHOWING URINE SAMPLE STORAGE 7.

TUBES IN BOX 8.

EMPLOYEE SHOWING SAMPLES 9.

VARIOUS OF ANTI-DOPING LABORATORY STAFF AT WORK STORY: Russian anti-doping agency RUSADA said it was temporarily halting all testing in response to government measures aimed at curbing the spread of the coronavirus.

Russia has reported 1,036 cases of the virus and has stepped up measures to prevent it from spreading further, including declaring next week a non-working week and ordering shut all Moscow cafes, restaurants and shops apart from those providing vital services, such as food and medicine.

In a video posted Saturday (March 27) on its website, RUSADA director Yuri Ganus said the agency was continuing its work during the coronavirus outbreak but was suspending testing to comply with government measures.

"We of course are following the regime that has been established by the leadership of Russia and at this time we have suspended testing," Ganus said, adding that the agency would announce the resumption of testing at a later date.

Margarita Pakhnotskaya, RUSADA's deputy director, told Reuters the suspension of testing would remain in place until April 6.

RUSADA was suspended in 2015 after the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) found evidence of mass doping in Russian athletics.

The agency was conditionally reinstated in September 2018, but was declared non-compliant late last year after WADA found Moscow had provided it with doctored laboratory data.

Russia is in the process of appealing a four-year ban on its athletes competing at major international sporting events under their flag as punishment for that alteration of laboratory data.

(Production: Maria Vasilyeva)

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