Athletics’ global governing body, the IAAF, provisionally suspended Russia in November over a bombshell report by WADA independent commission that found evidence of state-sponsored doping and mass corruption in Russian athletics.
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It was during those games, according to an interview Rodchenkov gave to the New York Times, that Russian anti-doping officials ran a clandestine night-time operation to cover up Russian competitors’ positive test results.
The IOC said earlier this week that it would begin retesting samples from the Sochi Olympics following Rodchenkov’s claims.
McLaren has a long history in worldwide sports law.
They are expected to speak with both Rodchenkov and fellow whistleblower and former Russian Anti-Doping Agency employee, Vitaly Stepanov.
Russia’s general prosecutor said the department had joined with law enforcement agencies, the sports ministry and the Russian Olympic Committee to “probe information published by a string of media outlets and the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) about the use of doping among Russian athletes at the Beijing, London and Sochi Olympics”.
U.S. Sen. Dan Sullivan says allegations of doping by Russian athletes undermine the confidence in the competitive process of the Olympics and a spirit of respect among nations.
His appointment followed concerns about a conflict of interest in the Sochi investigation because WADA is funded by the International Olympic Committee (IOC).
The American Department of Justice have also vowed to conduct their own separate investigation.
The Russians have been accused of state-sponsored doping at the 2014 Sochi Olympics.
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“As President of WADA, I felt that it was in the best interest of clean athletes that we obtain the evidence as quickly as possible. If it is found that there have been violations of the World Anti-Doping Code, WADA will ensure that individuals or organizations concerned are dealt with in an appropriate fashion”.
