WADA’s Independent Commission (IC) has today announced that it will hold a Press Conference in Geneva, Switzerland on Monday 9 November at 15.00 CET. The media can participate in person or by conference call, and a video recording will be made available on WADA’s website shortly after the event.

During the Press Conference, IC Chair Mr. Richard Pound will present the findings of his Commission’s Report surrounding allegations of doping in sport, as first raised during ARD’s December 2014 documentary titled ‘Top secret doping – how Russia makes its winners?’. The IC Report will also be made public via WADA’s website on Monday at approximately 15.00 CET, excluding, for the time being, the extension of its mandate added in August and those portions relating to the matters now under police investigation, which are expected to be available before the end of the year. Mr. Pound, who was the Founding President of the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA), will be joined by fellow IC members Professor Richard H. McLaren and Günter Younger.

On 11 December 2014, WADA launched the IC to investigate the validity of allegations of doping practices; corrupt practices around sample collection and results management; and, other ineffective administration of anti-doping processes that implicate Russia, the 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). As per the terms of its mandate, the IC was scheduled to deliver its report to WADA’s President Sir Craig Reedie by 31 December 2015.

The role of the IC Commission was extended by WADA in August 2015 following the release of the documentary titled ‘Doping – Top Secret: The Shadowy World of Athletics’, which contained new allegations regarding widespread doping in international athletics. The documentary alleged that ARD and The Sunday Times obtained a leaked database, belonging to the International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF), which contained more than 12,000 blood tests from around 5,000 athletes in the years 2001 to 2012. The IC will not be reporting on its findings from these latest allegations, however, at its 9 November Press Conference because its investigation into these particular allegations is still ongoing.

• This media release was originally sent out via email on 4 November 2015.