WADA publishes Terms of Reference for Independent Commission

Announces Günter Younger as third member

The World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) today published the Terms of Reference for its three-person Independent Commission (IC) that will investigate allegations of doping, which were aired from 3 – 8 December 2014 by the German television channel ARD. 

WADA also announces that Mr. Günter Younger, Head of Department Cybercrime with Bavarian Landeskriminalamt (LKA), will join the IC as its third member.   Mr. Younger has broad experience in law enforcement, including having spent a number of years with Interpol and Europol where he focused on combatting drugs and organized crime.

WADA President, Sir Craig Reedie: “WADA is confident that it has put the best structure and the right people in place to successfully investigate ARD’s allegations.  We are ensuring that the IC is given all the resources it needs so that, in turn, we can uphold our commitment to clean athletes and their right to compete in doping-free sport.”

The IC has been established to conduct an independent investigation into doping practices; corrupt practices around sample collection and results management; and, other ineffective administration of anti-doping processes that implicate Russia, the International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF), athletes, coaches, trainers, doctors and other members of athletes’ entourages; as well as, the accredited laboratory based in Moscow and the Russian Anti-Doping Agency (RUSADA).The IC will be considered complete when the report (as defined in the Terms of Reference) is provided to WADA’s President, by 31 December 2015 at the latest, unless he deems it appropriate to extend the mandate.

In addition to Mr. Younger, as previously announced, the IC will be chaired by Mr. Richard W. Pound, former WADA President, and includes Professor Richard McLaren, Legal Counsel with extensive experience in the world of international sports law and a longstanding member of the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS).

The IC will undertake its work under the provisions of the 2015 World Anti-Doping Code, which took effect on 1 January 2015.

WADA will not comment further on the allegations until the IC has been completed.