The World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) has denied having concluded its investigation into the legality of Haas’ 2021 livery, a day after a source at the international doping watchdog told this publication that they had ended their investigation and wouldn’t be taking any action at this time.
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“WADA has not yet concluded its enquiries in relation to this and no decision has yet been taken,” the organisation told Formula1News.co.uk in a statement on Tuesday.
WADA launched an investigation into the Haas F1 Team’s 2021 livery, which is based on the colours of the Russian flag, shortly after the American racing outfit released renderings of it earlier this month.
The livery is believed to be a part of Haas’ sponsorship partnership with Uralkali, a Russian potash producer and exporter.
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The company is owned by Russian billionaire Dmitry Mazepin, whose son, Nikita, will race with the team this year.
The Haas F1 Team’s 2021 livery attracted the attention of WADA shortly after it was unveiled.
Specifically, the international doping watchdog’s investigation is concerned with whether or not the livery violates the Court of Arbitration for Sport’s (CAS) December ruling which banned Russian athletes at world championship sporting events for two years.
The ban, which relates to state-sponsored doping at the 2014 Winter Olympics, means that Russian athletes, including F1 drivers, won’t be allowed to compete under their national flag or have it on display at official events until the end of 2022.
Earlier this month, the FIA said it had clarified with Haas that the controversial livery is not in violation of the aforementioned CAS ruling.
“The team has clarified the livery with the FIA – the CAS decision does not prohibit the use of the colours of the Russian flag,” the FIA said in a statement.
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