The World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) acknowledges today’s decision by the IAAF Ethics Board to sanction four individuals for various breaches of the IAAF’s Code of Ethics in relation to a specific doping case. While WADA is pleased with the decision, the Agency will refrain from commenting further at this time; as, the actions of these individuals, and other matters, will be addressed by our Independent Commission (IC) when it publishes its second Report next Thursday, 14 January, and there is also a pending criminal investigation underway in France.

The IC’s mandate 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.

• This media release was originally published by the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) on 7 January 2016. To access the original, please click here.