Russian Anti-Doping Agency names new general director
The Russian Anti-Doping Agency (RUSADA) announced Yury Ganus as the organization’s new general director on Thursday.
Talking to reporters following the announcement, Ganus spoke about RUSADA’s current goals.
“(Our) main task is returning Russian athletes to international competitions,” the new general director said.
“It will be done by implementing WADA requirements. The strategic task is RUSADA’s integration into the international WADA field. We have to raise the trust level. And I’d like to invite all the interested sides to cooperate,” he added.
It has been reported that RUSADA chose Ganus among 700 candidates.
Ganus also said that before accepting the role, he worked as a crisis manager in Russian and international companies, as well as teaching at Moscow State Technical University.
His experience in education should help in battling doping, he believes.
“We have to educate, and promote clean sport,” Ganus said. “We have to change public opinion regarding doping.”
RUSADA was suspended from carrying out doping controls within Russia by the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) in November 2015, in the wake of a major doping scandal, but was later provided with a road map to re-compliance.
At the end of June, WADA permitted RUSADA to plan and coordinate testing under the supervision of international experts and UK Anti-Doping (UKAD).
Following a visit to the organization’s headquarters in Moscow in July, WADA Director General Olivier Niggli stated that RUSADA is “moving in the right direction” to be reinstated.
