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Athletics doping: Russia 'committed to anti-doping fight' Athletics doping: Russia 'committed to anti-doping fight'
(35 minutes later)
Russia's sports ministry has said it is open to co-operating more closely with the World Anti-Doping Agency after it was implicated in a damning report.Russia's sports ministry has said it is open to co-operating more closely with the World Anti-Doping Agency after it was implicated in a damning report.
It said Wada's work would help Russia "to perfect its anti-doping system" and "specialists" were studying the report's findings.It said Wada's work would help Russia "to perfect its anti-doping system" and "specialists" were studying the report's findings.
But it and the sports minister have rejected key findings of the report. The report said widespread doping was "state-sponsored" and even secret services had been complicit.
The report said the doping was "state-sponsored" and recommended Russia be banned from athletics competition. But the Kremlin has dismissed the report's accusations as "groundless".
It sent shockwaves through the world of sport - with Australia saying it supported the call to ban Russia from all competitions including next year's Olympics in Rio de Janeiro. Spokesman Dmitry Peskov said proof of the claims was lacking.
The report sent shockwaves through the world of sport - with Australia backing its call to ban Russia from all competitions including next year's Olympics in Rio de Janeiro.
On Tuesday, UK Athletics chief Ed Warner told the BBC that Russian teams should not appear in Rio.On Tuesday, UK Athletics chief Ed Warner told the BBC that Russian teams should not appear in Rio.
The head of world athletics, Lord Coe, has given the All-Russia Athletic Federation, Araf, until the end of the week to respond to the claims.The head of world athletics, Lord Coe, has given the All-Russia Athletic Federation, Araf, until the end of the week to respond to the claims.
Wada commission recommends Russia banWada commission recommends Russia ban
'Dark day' for athletics'Dark day' for athletics
What happens if the trust goes out of sport?What happens if the trust goes out of sport?
'No interference''No interference'
Russia's sports ministry insisted the country was "fully committed to the fight against doping in sport".Russia's sports ministry insisted the country was "fully committed to the fight against doping in sport".
It said it would work more closely with Wada.It said it would work more closely with Wada.
The ministry has said it was "not surprised by most of the points in the report" and was "fully aware of the problems in" Araf and had already taken steps to address them. The ministry has said it was "not surprised by most of the points in the report" and was "fully aware of the problems in" Araf and had already taken steps to address them, with new management and new chief trainer.
But, it insisted, "we do not interfere in [national anti-doping agency] Rusada and anti-doping laboratory work".But, it insisted, "we do not interfere in [national anti-doping agency] Rusada and anti-doping laboratory work".
That echoes strong denials by sports minister Vitaly Mutko that Araf had destroyed hundreds of doping samples illicitly at the body's accredited laboratory in Moscow - insisting it had done so only at Wada's request.That echoes strong denials by sports minister Vitaly Mutko that Araf had destroyed hundreds of doping samples illicitly at the body's accredited laboratory in Moscow - insisting it had done so only at Wada's request.
He said that excluding his country from competitions was not the answer and that doping issues could only be resolved through co-operation.He said that excluding his country from competitions was not the answer and that doping issues could only be resolved through co-operation.
The sports ministry also suggested that other anti-doping organisations, "including international ones", should also be subjected to scrutiny to check for violations.The sports ministry also suggested that other anti-doping organisations, "including international ones", should also be subjected to scrutiny to check for violations.
Exclusion fearExclusion fear
The statement notably ignores claims of government complicity in the corruption, says the BBC's Sarah Rainsford in Moscow. The ministry's statement notably ignores claims of government complicity in the corruption, says the BBC's Sarah Rainsford in Moscow.
The more conciliatory tone is perhaps down to the main concern here - avoiding a ban for Russian athletes from the next Olympics.The more conciliatory tone is perhaps down to the main concern here - avoiding a ban for Russian athletes from the next Olympics.
It is a field in which this country has always excelled, our correspondent says, and its exclusion would be a huge blow.It is a field in which this country has always excelled, our correspondent says, and its exclusion would be a huge blow.
Wada's independent commission examined allegations of doping, cover-ups, and extortion in Russian athletics, which also implicated the IAAF, the sport's world governing body.Wada's independent commission examined allegations of doping, cover-ups, and extortion in Russian athletics, which also implicated the IAAF, the sport's world governing body.
It says London 2012 was "sabotaged" by "widespread inaction" against athletes with suspicious doping profiles.It says London 2012 was "sabotaged" by "widespread inaction" against athletes with suspicious doping profiles.
The report recommended that five athletes and five coaches should be given lifetime doping bans.The report recommended that five athletes and five coaches should be given lifetime doping bans.
The international police body Interpol says it will be co-ordinating a global investigation into the suspected corruption and doping.The international police body Interpol says it will be co-ordinating a global investigation into the suspected corruption and doping.