Putin orders doping probe

Thursday, November 12, 2015 1:09 pm

Russian President Vladimir Putin.

President of Russia, Vladimir Putin, on Thursday called for investigation into allegations of systemic doping and bribery within the country’s athletics.

According to ‘Inside Games,’ an online portal for sports news, Putin admitted that the recent systematic doping scandal in Russia needed more attention.

The online publication stated that Putin in response to the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) allegations on bribery levelled against Russian athletes, called for the investigation in a meeting with Russian National Federation chiefs.

It was alleged that Russian athletes bribed Lamine Diack, a former president of International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF) in order to manipulate sporting competitions.

Putin also ordered Vitaly Mutko, the Sports Minister, to cooperate fully with international anti-doping bodies in order to conduct an internal investigation.

“The struggle with doping in sports, unfortunately, remains a pressing issue and it requires unending attention. It’s absolutely clear that athletes who stay away from doping should not be held responsible,’’ Putin was quoted as saying.

It stated that Thomas Bach, President of International Olympic Committee (IOC) claimed that the bribery allegations against Diack were shocking.

It stated that French police were currently investigating Diack, 82, a Senegalese, over allegations that he took bribes to cover up positive drugs tests involving Russian athletics when he was president of IAAF.

“It is unimaginable that the leadership of an IF (International Federation) would solicit in bribes from athletes in order to manipulate sports competitions,’’ Bach was quoted as saying.

Bach also dismissed suggestions that the IOC had not shown leadership since the scandal erupted.

He insisted that it was IAAF’s responsibility to sanction member federations.
“The IAAF will have to deal with its member federations; it’s not for the IOC, we have no authority,’’ Bach said.