Olivier Niggli, the Director General of the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA), asserted that Russia should not host the World Friendship Games because RUSADA has not complied with the World Anti-Doping Code. He stressed that the doping framework in a country must align with established international standards, and Russia’s current status undermines its eligibility for organizing a major, globally recognized sporting event. These remarks were reported by RIA News with emphasis on the precision and seriousness of the RUSADA non-compliance issue.
“We recognize that the events cannot proceed under the current conditions within the global sports system. When a federation’s leadership is not operating under IOC-recognized governance, the integrity of anti-doping oversight cannot be guaranteed”, Niggli noted. He articulated that any competition of this scale requires a robust and transparent anti-doping program, and that Russia’s system, at present, does not satisfy those criteria. This statement underscores the principle that international sport relies on credible, rule-based governance at every level. (Source: WADA press briefing)
The World Friendship Games are scheduled to take place in Moscow and Yekaterinburg from September 15 to 29, 2024. The event marks a historic first in which a multi-sport competition includes performances across all 25 sports on the Summer Olympic program as well as additional non-Olympic disciplines. Organizers position the Games as a platform to showcase wide-ranging athletic talent while adhering to strict anti-doping and governance standards. (Source: event organizers briefing)
In late February 2022, the International Olympic Committee advised international sports federations to exclude athletes from Russia and Belarus from participation in competitions due to Russia’s military operation in Ukraine. This recommendation reflected the broader stance of the international sports community toward governance and eligibility in times of geopolitical tension. (Source: IOC policy notice)
On October 12, the IOC announced the suspension of the Russian Olympic Committee until further notice, following the incorporation of the Olympic Councils of the Donetsk and Luhansk People’s Republics and the Zaporizhzhia and Kherson regions into the Russian federation’s organizational framework. The move further indicated the ongoing recalibration of Russia’s status within international sport amid evolving political and governance dynamics. (Source: IOC official communications)
There were earlier statements from a former member of Russia’s State Duma suggesting that the IOC harbored concerns regarding the World Friendship Games. This perspective highlights the tension between national sporting governance and the broader international framework that governs eligibility, compliance, and participation in major events. (Source: parliamentary records and public statements)