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Athletics doping: Russia 'committed to anti-doping fight' Athletics doping: Kremlin says claims are 'groundless'
(about 3 hours 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. The Kremlin has dismissed accusations of widespread state-sponsored doping among its athletes as "groundless".
It said Wada's work would help Russia "to perfect its anti-doping system" and "specialists" were studying the report's findings. Spokesman Dmitry Peskov said there was no evidence for the claims.
The report said widespread doping was "state-sponsored" and even secret services had been complicit. The acting head of the Russian Athletics Federation, Vadim Zelichenok, said there were few "fresh facts" in the report and past problems with doping had been tackled.
But the Kremlin has dismissed the report's accusations as "groundless". The report depicted a culture of systematic cheating - with even the secret services involved.
Spokesman Dmitry Peskov said proof of the claims was lacking. It said neither the All-Russia Athletics Federation (Araf), the Russian anti-doping agency (Rusada), nor the Russian Athletics Federation were complying with anti-doping procedures.
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. The report - by an independent commission for the World Anti-Doping Agency (Wada) - sent shockwaves through the world of sport.
On Tuesday, UK Athletics chief Ed Warner told the BBC that Russian teams should not appear in Rio. Australia and the UK have backed its call to ban Russia from all competitions including next year's Olympics in Rio de Janeiro.
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 Araf until the end of the week to respond to the claims.
Wada has suspended the accreditation of a Moscow laboratory where samples were sent for testing, with work there now said to have ceased.
Wada commission recommends Russia banWada commission recommends Russia ban
'Dark day' for athletics Russian media fear sports isolation
What happens if the trust goes out of sport?What happens if the trust goes out of sport?
Russia 'not alone in doping'
'No interference''No interference'
Russia's sports ministry insisted the country was "fully committed to the fight against doping in sport". Russian reaction has ranged from outrage to a more conciliatory tone.
It said it would work more closely with Wada. "If accusations are being voiced, they should be supported by evidence," Kremlin spokesman Mr Peskov told reporters.
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. "As long as evidence is not provided, it is difficult to accept accusations. They are groundless," he said.
Sports minister Vitaly Mutko has strongly denied that Araf destroyed hundreds of doping samples illicitly at the body's accredited laboratory in Moscow - insisting it had done so only at Wada's request.
Mr Zelichenok admitted that doping had been a problem, but told the BBC: "There is no corruption now. I can lay my hand on the Bible."
Rusada's executive director, Nikita Kamaev, told reporters his organisation had been compliant with Wada standards.
Meanwhile, a statement from the sports ministry said it was open to co-operating more closely with Wada and insisted the country was "fully committed to the fight against doping in sport".
It said Wada's work would help Russia "to perfect its anti-doping system".
The ministry 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. The sports ministry also suggested that other anti-doping organisations, "including international ones", should also be subjected to scrutiny to check for violations.a would be a huge blow.
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.
Exclusion fear
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.
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.