Andy Parkinson to lead IPC taskforce
Headed by Andy Parkinson, the Taskforce will assist the International Paralympic Committee (IPC) in determining whether the Russian Paralympic Committee (RPC) is implementing the reforms required to have its IPC membership suspension lifted
British Rowing’s CEO and former CEO of UK Anti-Doping (UKAD), Andy Parkinson, has been appointed as independent chairperson of a Taskforce to assist the IPC Governing Board in determining whether the RPC has met the reinstatement criteria and underlying verification criteria it set out in November.
The Taskforce, headed by Parkinson, will comprise of five international experts. Parkinson will be joined on the IPC Taskforce by Shin Asakawa, Chief Executive of the Japan Anti-Doping Agency (JADA); Akaash Maharaj, Chief Executive of the Global Organisation of Parliamentarians Against Corruption; Sarah Fussek, FIS Anti-Doping Co-ordinator; and Peter Van de Vliet, the IPC’s Scientific and Medical Director. Liz Riley of Bird & Bird LLP will serve as legal counsel to the IPC Taskforce.
Commenting on his appointment, Parkinson said: “I agreed with and supported the IPC’s response to the Russian situation. This next step is a vital part in the process of assisting the IPC Governing Board in determining whether the RPC has met the reinstatement criteria to allow clean Paralympians to compete again on the world stage.
“I look forward to working with my colleagues on the Taskforce and we will conduct a thorough and robust review of all the evidence available to us and provide our independent assessment and recommendations to the IPC Governing Board.”
Prior to his appointment as CEO of British Rowing in January 2015, Parkinson was the first Chief Executive Officer of UKAD. He was responsible for establishing UKAD as a leading organisation, managing and promoting clean sport in the UK and internationally. Between 2012 and 2015 Andy was the Chairman of the Ad hoc European Committee for the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA).
He was a member of WADA’s International Standard for Testing Working Group and played an active role in WADA’s Independent Observer Programme. He attended the Beijing 2008 Paralympic Games, the 2009 Games of the Small States of Europe as Chair, the 2010 Tour de France as Co-Chair and the Sochi 2014 Olympic Games as Chair.
The IPC Taskforce will assume its responsibilities with immediate effect. The RPC will meet the IPC on 20 December in Bonn, Germany, to discuss in-depth the reinstatement criteria and underlying verification criteria.
The IPC suspended the RPC on 7 August due to its inability to fulfil its IPC membership obligations, in particular its obligation to comply with the World Anti-Doping Code (to which it is a signatory) and the IPC Anti-Doping Code.
More information about the IPC’s reinstatement criteria can be found on the IPC’s website, https://www.paralympic.org/news/ipc-informs-russian-paralympic-committee-reinstatement-criteria.
Any media request relating to the Taskforce should be directed to Craig Spence, IPC Communications & Media Director, Tel. +49 228 2097-230, Mob. +49 170 3899982, craig.spence@paralympic.org .
