July 15 set as deadline for completion of Sochi doping probe

MONTREAL (AP) WADA's independent investigation into allegations of state-backed doping at the 2014 Sochi Olympics will be completed by July 15.

The World Anti-Doping Agency specified the date in the ''terms of reference'' for the probe, which is being carried out by Canadian arbitrator Richard McLaren.

The inquiry will look into allegations by Grigory Rodchenkov, former director of the Moscow anti-doping lab, that he helped Russian athletes dope before the 2014 Winter Olympics and switched tainted samples for clean ones during the games.

WADA said the probe began last week and will finish when the report is presented to the agency ''at the latest on 15th July 2016.''

That's just over a month after the IAAF is set to decide whether to lift is suspension of Russia's track and field federation, and six weeks before the Olympics in Rio de Janeiro.

WADA said its president, Craig Reedie, can extend the mandate if necessary.