Russian cyclists file suit against anti-doping agency and Canadian investigator
TORONTO — Three Russian cyclists filed a lawsuit in Ontario Superior Court on Monday against the World Anti-Doping Agency and Canadian lawyer Richard McLaren, claiming they were unfairly implicated in an alleged doping scheme that caused them “great reputational harm.”
In a statement of claim, Kirill Sveshnikov, Dmitry Strakhov and Dmitry Sokolov are seeking $7 million in general and punitive damages, alleging they were banned from the 2016 Rio Games due to a “rushed and compromised investigation.”
“Together, WADA and Richard McLaren prevented us from reaching our life-long goal of participating in the Rio Olympics, the pinnacle of our sport, and we allege that they wrongly associated our names with cheaters and doping,” Sveshnikov said in a statement. “We are asking the court to review all of the evidence and to vindicate us.”
The allegations laid out in the lawsuit have not been proven in court.