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Doping scandal in Russian sports

Russia open for cooperation with IOC, WADA ― ROC president

"No system of state support for doping in Russia has ever existed or exists," Alexander Zhukov said

President of the Russian Olympic Committee Alexander Zhukov Vladimir Gerdo/TASS

President of the Russian Olympic Committee Alexander Zhukov

© Vladimir Gerdo/TASS

MOSCOW, December 9. /TASS/. Russia is open for cooperation with the International Olympic Committee (IOC) and the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA), President of the Russian Olympic Committee (ROC) Alexander Zhukov told TASS on Friday.

Earlier in the day, the WADA Independent Commission published the second part of its report about manipulations with doping samples at the 2014 Sochi Winter Olympics. It said that more than 1,000 Russian athletes could be involved in manipulations to conceal positive doping tests, while an unprecedented system to cover up doping abuse cases has been in effect in Russia in recent years.

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"We are open for cooperation with all international organizations, both with WADA and with IOC. And we are maintaining contacts through the anti-doping commission," he said. "We have amended our laws and the Russian Anti-Doping Agency (RUSADA) is now absolutely independent. From the point of view of financing the organization, it has even increased. We have made a special provision in the budget. Everything has been done to enhance anti-doping efforts."

"No system of state support for doping in Russia has ever existed or exists," Zhukov said. "Considering any concrete facts, they should be studied more thoroughly," he added.

"McLaren noted that Russia did a lot, which he assessed positively," Zhukov noted. "We are talking about changing legislation, stepping up fight against doping. In fact, our position is the irreconcilable struggle against doping, and we are doing everything we can for this. We introduced criminal responsibility for forcing someone to take doping," he concluded.

"McLaren was asked this question (about allowing Russians to compete at the 2018 Games). He said that this is not his competence, this is the issue of International Olympic Committee and international federations. This requires additional analysis and inspections. I can confirm ― we are open, even foreigners work at the Russian Anti-Doping Agency (RUSADA). The Russian anti-doping system should be restored in full volume, the rights of RUSADA should be restored, and the laboratory should be restored as soon as possible so it can work efficiently," Zhukov said.

"Foreigners are now taking tests, checks have been completed abroad for over a year. If someone doubts the quality of our athletes’ tests, this is now the question exclusively for UK Anti-Doping (UKAD) and for foreign doping officers. This system is now functioning externally," the ROC president noted.

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Sports International Olympic Committee Doping Doping scandal in Russian sports

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