Richard McLaren joins WADA investigation into Russian doping allegations
December 17, 2014
Western University law professor and veteran sport arbitrator Richard McLaren has been appointed by the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) to investigate allegations of widespread, systematic doping and cover-ups in Russia.
McLaren, an award-winning professor at Western's Faculty of Law, joins former WADA chairman Richard Pound, who will chair the three-person independent commission.
"WADA is pleased that Mr. Richard Pound and Professor Richard McLaren have agreed to look into the grave doping allegations that came to light through the recent German television broadcasts," said WADA President Sir Craig Reedie.
The Commission will review allegations from a recently aired German television documentary, as well as "other information received separately" by WADA.
The panel will seek to determine if there have been any violations of the World Anti-Doping Code by athletes, coaches, doctors, trainers and WADA-accredited laboratories that could lead to sanctions against individuals or organizations.
WADA said the commission would be given the resources it needs "so that, in turn, clean athletes across the world are reassured that the anti-doping system is working in their best interests."
The Commission begins its investigation in January 2015.
A Counsel with McKenzie Lake Lawyers LLP, McLaren is the founder of Innovative Dispute Resolution and McLaren Global Sport Solutions.
McLaren has a wealth of international experience, including memberships in the Court of Arbitration for Sport in Lausanne, Switzerland, the Beijing Arbitration Commission, the London Court of International Arbitration, the Dubai International Arbitration Centre and the Sport Dispute Resolution Centre for Canada.
Having served as an on-site arbitrator at the Nagano and Torino Winter Olympic Games and the Sydney, Athens and Beijing Summer Olympic Games, McLaren also participated with Senator George Mitchell in the inquiry into the use of steroids in Major League Baseball in 2007.
