Callum Skinner: Wada 'brushing Russian doping under rug'
- Published
Callum Skinner 'disappointed' with Wada decision
Ignoring Russia's failure to admit to state-sponsored doping and "brushing it under the rug just stinks basically", says Scottish cyclist Callum Skinner.
The World Anti-Doping Agency (Wada) has ended a three-year ban for a scandal over alleged state-sponsored doping.
Leading athletes and anti-doping bodies had opposed it, including Skinner, who said it must "be treated seriously".
"I don't see why Wada is backing down. It should be the Russians making compromises," he told BBC Scotland.
Wada president Sir Craig Reedie said the reinstatement was "subject to strict conditions" and that the anti-doping authority must be given access to former Moscow laboratory data and samples.
He said the "great majority" of the 12-strong executive committee had voted in favour of the recommendation at a meeting in the Seychelles.
But, speaking before the vote, Skinner told Good Morning Scotland that is was "a sorry state of affairs" and "beyond belief".
As well as allowing access to the laboratory, Russia were to admit state-sponsored doping if their anti-doping body - Rusada - was to be considered compliant with Wada's code. Neither of these has happened.
"I know people say time is a good healer, and I think that is what Wada is hoping for. But we have to remember what brought this ban in the first place," he said.
"We need to accept the road map in full and I don't see why Wada is offering an olive branch to one of the biggest doping scandals in history."
The chairman of Scottish athletics, Ian Beattie, says lifting the ban could mean Russia athletes who are "not clean" will be readmitted to track and field events.
He says the decision is "deeply disappointing" and "gives a mixed message" to athletes who simple want to know that those they are competing against as tested in the same way as they are.
"Our athletes are tested to very high standards and they accept it as part of having a fair sport," Beattie told BBC Scotland.
"Wada's role should be to enforce clean sport, full-stop. The decision to say: 'No, we'll have a compromise, we'll have a negotiation with a country so they can come back in, gives a very poor message."