The Russian
president has formally called for an investigation into 'state-supported'
doping following WADA allegations. The move comes ahead of a possible Olympics
ban for Russian track and field athletes.
Deutsche Welle, 12 Nov 2015
Russian President Vladimir Putin orders investigation |
Russian
President Vladimir Putin on Wednesday ordered an inquiry into allegations of
systematic "state-supported" doping following a report by an
independent commission from the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA).
An email
released by a German news source has left the World Anti-Doping Agency chief
exposed, in what is the latest of setbacks for WADA. The email seems to seek to
reassure Russia after media allegations of doping.
"It is
essential that we conduct our own internal investigation and provide the most
open - and I want to underline - the most open professional cooperation with
international anti-doping structures," Putin said following a meeting of
Russia's top sports officials.
"I ask
the minister of sport and all our colleagues who are linked in one way or
another with sport to pay this issue the greatest possible attention,"
Putin added.
Earlier
this week, Grigory Rodchenkov, former Russian anti-doping laboratory chief, was
accused of heading the doping cover-up, including purposefully destroying over
1,400 positive test samples and extorting money from athletes.
Rodchenkov
resigned from his position on Tuesday.
The WADA on
Tuesday also withdrew accreditation of Moscow's anti-doping laboratory,
effectively suspending the center's ability to conduct blood and urine tests.
The WADA accused Russia of "sabotaging" the 2012 Olympic Games |
Olympics
ban?
Putin's
statement comes ahead of an International Association of Athletics Federations'
(IAAF) meeting Friday when the sports governing body is expected to decide
whether Russian track and field athletes will be banned from the 2016 Olympic
Games in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
International
Olympic Committee (IOC) President Thomas Bach said "the IAAF has informed
us they will take the necessary measures."
However,
Russia should not be punished for the actions of individuals, who should be
held accountable, President Putin said following Wednesday's meeting.
"If
someone breaks the rules on doping, the responsibility should be
individual," Putin said.
"This
problem does not exist only in Russia, but if our foreign colleagues have
questions, we must answer them," the Russian president said.
ls/jm (AFP, AP, Reuters)
No comments:
Post a Comment
Note: Only a member of this blog may post a comment.