Doping agency: 'Much more' needed to fix problems in Russia

LONDON (AP) The head of the World Anti-Doping Agency has told Russia's sports minister that ''much more still needs to be accomplished'' to fix the country's doping problems.

WADA President Craig Reedie responded to a letter from Russian minister Vitaly Mutko, who said his ministry carried out a ''significant amount of work'' to combat doping and pledged further cooperation with the global agency.

WADA spokesman Ben Nichols says Mutko's letter acknowledged ''the deep-rooted doping problems the country has encountered, and the difficulty with eradicating such a doping culture in a short space of time.''

He says Reedie responded in a letter to Mutko, ''recognizing some of the steps that have been taken towards ensuring an effective anti-doping system in Russia, but stating that much more still needs to be accomplished.''