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Doping scandal in Russian sports

Putin announces new anti-doping system to be set up in Russia

The Russian president has stressed that the fight against doping will continue

© Mikhail Metzel/TASS

KRASNOYARSK, March 1. /TASS/. An effective anti-doping system should be set up in Russia, President Vladimir Putin said at a meeting on the preparations for the 2019 World Winter Universiade. "I hope, we will not have to deal with any cheats who organize doping programs and then leave the country," he added.

"We are about to set up a new anti-doping system, the Sports Ministry, the government will hand this system over to an independent organization established at Moscow State University," Putin stated. He added that "a laboratory will be set up by Moscow State University, we will assist in providing it with modern equipment and finding the best personnel".

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Putin suggests heeding WADA’s demands due to flaws in current anti-doping system

Putin also expressed hope that "with the help of Russian and foreign experts, an effective anti-doping system will be set up."

"I expect that the commission headed by Vitaly Smirnov will continue its activities aimed at anti-doping monitoring," Putin added.

According to him, "it goes without saying that we should do everything possible so that our young athletes do not have to face the doping issues."

"We will also do everything possible to build meaningful cooperation with all our counterparts, including WADA [World Anti-Doping Agency] and the International Olympic Committee," Putin reiterated.

In November 2016, Putin handed down instructions to establish a national anti-doping laboratory at Moscow State University and hand the property of the Sports Ministry’s anti-doping center over to the new facility.

In January 2016, Grigory Rodchenkov, who headed Russia’s anti-doping center in 2006-2015, moved to the United States and became a WADA informant. In Russia, a criminal case over abuse of power was launched against him.

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