In light of allegations linking Russian athletes to a doping scandal, the Russian sports minister Vitaly Mutko responded in a very defensive manner, before admitting that Russian athletes could be banned from participating in the 2016 Rio De Janeiro Olympics.
The IAAF has provisionally suspended Russia, amid widespread doping allegations, after a 323 paged report was put together by the former head of World Anti-Doping Association’s Dick Pound, over an 11 month period.
– Russia: Federation pays price with IAAF ban
The report highlights the involvement of sports officials, lab testers, athletes and security service agents, in what could be seen as a joint effort to cover up doping violations, whether it is for personal gain or to improve competitive chances of success in competitions.
Mutko has admitted that Russia does have a doping problem, and promised to cooperate with WADA to get rid of it from the country's sporting endeavours.
Despite it being an issue Russia has to solve, Mutko admitted it’s more of “a global problem” and that clean athletes should be protected.
Mutko also stated that he will fight to keep Russia involved in the Rio 2016 Olympic Games.
