Bach said allegations that Russian officials subverted the drug-testing system at the 2014 Winter Games in Sochi “represent a shocking new dimension in doping” and an “unimaginable level of criminality”.
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McLaren is an worldwide sports lawyer and a professor at Western University in London, Ont.
In track, Russian Federation is banned from competing because of a WADA panel report detailing state-sponsored doping.
The investigation into doping allegations from the Sochi Olympics will be overseen by a professor of law at Western University.
The World Anti-Doping Agency in November said Russia’s anti-doping laboratory chief was the head of a state-sponsored doping ring involving the country’s athletes. Rodchenkov said he was helped by people he believed to be Russian security officers.
Rodchenkov fled to the U.S. city, claiming his life was in danger, shortly after that investigation into Russian athletics named him as the brains behind a decade of drug-fuelled cheating. “Only in that case it will be interesting for athletes, as well as millions of fans and spectators”.
The IOC said earlier this week that it would begin retesting samples from the Sochi Olympics following Rodchenkov’s claims. Russian authorities have strongly denied any wrongdoing.
Bach has consistently refused to criticise Russia, despite them now being banned by the International Association of Athletics Federations after the WADA Independent Commission found evidence of state-supported doping.
“This could mean that concerned athletes would have to demonstrate that their global and independently proven test record is compliant with the rules of their worldwide Federation and the World Anti-Doping Code”, Bach said.
Russia’s track and field team is now banned from global competition, with an IAAF decision on whether to reinstate it for the Rio Olympics coming on June 17.
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“WADA is grateful to Richard McLaren who has, once again, agreed to join a WADA Investigation Team”, says Sir Craig Reedie.
