WADA issues report from investigation into allegations that athletes in Morocco were attempting to evade testing
The World Anti-Doping Agency’s (WADA’s) independent Intelligence and Investigations (I&I) Department has published its summary report following an investigation into allegations that some elite Moroccan-born long-distance runners of dual nationality were putting themselves beyond the reach of out-of-competition testing.
WADA I&I launched its investigation, known as ‘Operation Fennec’, in April 2022 after receiving intelligence that certain athletes were avoiding testers by providing suspicious and inaccurate whereabouts information, and also choosing to train in remote and inaccessible areas of Morocco.
The investigation has revealed that these practices, coupled with a loophole in Moroccan law that prevented sample collection agencies from carrying out tests at certain times, were allowing athletes to avoid being properly tested for extended periods of time. On the basis of WADA’s investigation, a revision to Moroccan law has been drafted in consultation with WADA’s Compliance, Rules and Standards Department to bring it in line with the World Anti-Doping Code.
WADA I&I Director, Gunter Younger, said: “WADA thoroughly investigated these allegations and we have revealed that certain athletes of dual nationality (Moroccan-born but representing other countries) were training in remote parts of the country to reduce the likelihood of being tested. Some also gave false whereabouts information to the relevant Anti-Doping Organization. Those matters are being addressed based on the evidence gathered.
“We have spoken to the relevant stakeholders and have agreed that better communication and collaboration between all involved parties are needed to materially improve out-of-competition testing in Morocco. My department will facilitate such a meeting and we will continue monitoring the situation in Morocco in order to make sure that athletes who train there are sufficiently tested.”
Note: The names and other identifying information related to those athletes involved in the investigation have been withheld from the summary report as cases may still be pending against them.
