Report: Soviet had state-backed doping plan for '84 Olympics

RIO DE JANEIRO (AP) The New York Times is reporting that the Soviet Union had a state-sponsored doping program ahead of the 1984 Olympics before it boycotted the Los Angeles Games.

The paper reported online that the Research Institute of Physical Culture and Sports had a supply of anabolic steroids to inject track and field athletes.

The Times quotes a document it says was signed by Dr. Sergei Portugalov, who headed a government-run sports medicine research center in the Soviet era, as well as being the longtime chief doctor for the Russian athletics federation.

The 1983 document says ''a range of data proves that the main opponents of Soviet athletes will use the aforementioned injection form of anabolic steroids at the upcoming Olympic Games.''

The Times says the document was obtained from a former chief doctor for the Soviet track and field team.