She told the BBC in comments published Friday that she was “treated with disrespect” at a recent meeting.
Representational image (Photo: Twitter)
Beckie Scott, chair of the World Anti-Doping Agency’s Athlete Committee, says in a BBC interview that she was “bullied” by some WADA officials over her opposition to reinstating Russia’s anti-doping agency.
Scott, a Canadian former Olympic cross-country skiing champion, last month resigned from the panel that recommended lifting the ban on RUSADA, which had been declared non-compliant in 2015 after revelations of a vast state-backed scheme to avoid drug testers.
She told the BBC in comments published Friday that she was “treated with disrespect” at a recent meeting.
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“I think it’s indicative of two things,” Scott said.
“One is lack of regard for the athlete’s voice in general. I think it’s also indicative of leadership of WADA’s alignment with the Olympic movement.”
US Anti-Doping Agency chief Travis Tygart, who last month condemned the decision to reinstate RUSADA, applauded Scott’s comments, indicating the International Olympic Committee had unduly influenced the global anti-doping body.
“The IOC tail is now unquestionably wagging the WADA dog, and that is not something anyone who cares about clean, fair sport wants to see,” Tygart said in a statement on Friday backing Scott.
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