Russia submits response to the IAAF, WADA doping report
The Russian Athletics Federation has submitted its response to the IAAF after the World Anti-Doping Agency recommended that the IAAF ban Russian athletes from international competition following an independent committee’s review into performance enhancing doping.
“In our report for the IAAF, we agreed with some positions taken by WADA (the World Anti-Doping Agency),” Russian Athletics Federation head Vadim Zelichenok told the Russian news agency TASS. “However, we explained that all these irregularities happened under the old leadership of the [Russian Athletics Federation] and took place some time ago.”
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On Monday, World Anti-Doping Agency released the findings of an Independent Committee’s review into performance enhancing doping in Russian sports, and recommended that the IOC ban the country from international competition while also banning five coaches and five athletes.
IAAF president Seb Coe gave Russia until Friday to respond to the WADA findings or potentially face a ban from international competition which could include the 2016 Olympics in Rio de Janeiro. A final decision is expected tomorrow.
If Russian track and field athletes are barred from competing at the 2016 Olympics in Rio de Janeiro, Russian sports minister Vitaly Mutko says that they have no intention of boycotting the Olympics.
- Christopher Chavez
