Wada cracks down on six countries

The sporting world's anti-doping watchdog targeted six countries on Thursday for breaching its rules. Russia, already thrown out of international competitions, was on the list of nations whose systems have been identified as sub-standard.

Thomas Bach, president of the International Olympic Committee, has backed the drive to clean up athletics. Reuters/Denis Balibouse

The World Anti-Doping Agency (Wada) rapped six countries on Thursday including Russia for flouting its guidelines.

Following a meeting of its foundation board in Colorado Springs in the United States, Wada deemed that Argentina, Bolivia, Ukraine, Andorra and Israel had also fallen foul of its code.

Wada president Sir Craig Reedie said: "The message is clear. There will now be greater focus on strengthening compliance work so that all anti-doping organisations worldwide are held accountable to deliver robust anti-doping programmes."

The Russians had been expecting the non-compliance sanction ever since a Wada report last week highlighted a state-sponsored doping programme in the country.

The Russian doping agency, Rusada, had been heavily implicated in the scandal and was accused of destroying samples requested for analysis by Wada.

The International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF) suspended Russia from international competition last week.

Andorra and Israel have also fallen foul of Wada for not having up-to-date rules in place.

Argentina, Bolivia and Ukraine have also been declared non-compliant for using non-accredited laboratories,

Under rules agreed by Wada and the International Olympic Committee, only countries in full compliance with Wada's code can take part in the Olympic Games.

"Our priority is now on ensuring all our partners are fully compliant and have watertight anti-doping systems that protect clean athletes and reassure sports fans worldwide," Reedie added."We won't rush this process of compliance. We will do it right as the integrity of sport is under threat.”