The Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) has issued its decision in the arbitration procedure between the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) and the Russian Anti- Doping Agency (RUSADA), with 50 intervening parties, including the International Olympic Committee.

The CAS Panel unanimously determined RUSADA to be non-compliant with the World Anti-Doping Code (WADC) in connection with its failure to procure the delivery of the authentic LIMS data (Laboratory Information Management System) and underlying analytical data of the former Moscow Laboratory to WADA. As a consequence, the Panel issued a number of orders which come into effect on 17 December 2020 for a period of two years, i.e. until 16 December 2022.

Russia was in Group H with Croatia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Cyprus and Malta in the qualifiers leading to the FIFA World Cup 2022. Malta was in fact due to host Russia in the first match in the group on March 24 and then play in Russia on September 7.

The Panel’s orders include, inter alia, the possibility during the two-year period for any athlete or athlete support personnel from Russia to participate in or attend the Olympic and Paralympic Games (winter or summer) and any world championships organised or sanctioned by a WADA signatory, on the condition that they are not subject to a suspension imposed by a competent authority, that the uniform worn does not contain the flag of the Russian Federation and contains the words “neutral athlete”, and that the Russian national anthem is not played or sung at any official event venue.

For RUSADA to be reinstated as a compliant signatory, all consequences imposed for RUSADA’s non-complaisance must have been respected and observed in full by RUSADA through the two-year period with all monetary fines and contributions pai