(Reuters) – The World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) hit back yesterday at reports it turned a blind eye to positive tests by Spanish athletes and said it was investigating the National Anti-Doping Organisation of Spain (CELAD).
A report by eldiario.es said Spanish sprinter Patrick Chinedu Ike had produced a positive test in 2019 but CELAD did not open an investigation and that WADA took no action even though the result was on the athlete’s profile in the agency’s database system.
WADA, however, told Reuters that Chinedu Ike’s case was still under investigation. Spanish online news outlet Relevo reported that CELAD had found positive results and waited the maximum allowed time of one year between opening a case and informing the athlete in question while hiding others by retroactive approval of Therapeutic Use Exemptions (TUE). TUEs are given to athletes who require medication that contains banned substances for medical and health-related issues.
CELAD did not respond to a Reuters request for comment.
“WADA strongly rejects the implication that it would ever turn a blind eye to any valid cases,” WADA said in a statement.
“WADA can confirm that for several months, as part of its compliance monitoring program, it has been aware of ongoing problems related to CELAD, including several issues to do with testing and results management.
“Related to that, WADA provided to CELAD a corrective action report that needed to be addressed as a matter of urgency, including with respect to a number of delayed cases.
“This matter is ongoing.”
