Vladimir Putin's denial of Russian doping rejected by UK Athletics

Ed Warner, Chairman of UK Athletics, has called for Russia to be banned

UK Athletics chairman Ed Warner has rejected claims from Vladimir Putin that accusations of state-sponsored doping by Russian athletes "appear unfounded".

Warner also wants to see Russia stripped of hosting next year's IAAF World Junior Championships in Kazan in the wake of the World Anti-Doping Agency report on doping allegations.

The statement from the Kremlin came after a WADA commission recommended the suspension of Russia from international athletics.

This followed an 11-month investigation from an independent three-man panel, headed by former WADA president Dick Pound, which accused Russia of widespread doping, cover-ups and extortion.

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IAAF President Sebastian Coe has given Russia a week to respond to reports from the World Anti-Doping Agency

Putin's spokesman Dmitry Peskov has insisted there was no evidence for the contents of the WADA report.

He said: "There is no evidence so it is difficult to consider the accusations, which appear rather unfounded."

RusAthletics chief Vadim Zelichenok hit back at WADA, while Russian Sports Minister Vitaly Mutko also refuted allegations of widespread doping in Russian athletics.

"These are not the first accusations against Russia and Russian sport," he said. "Generally, I would not say that they accuse the ministry or myself personally. This seems to be an emotional statement by the chairman of the commission, his way of understanding the situation - no more than that.

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The World Anti-Doping Agency has recommended Russia be suspended from international athletics amid accusations of doping, cover-ups and extortion

"They have no evidence, but one is still guilty. They largely use polls, anonymous polls, some wiretaps that were made during sportsmen's training process. Many facts like that.

"There is an attempt made to cast a shadow over all Russian sport. It is unacceptable and I can re-assure you that Russian sport is today one of the leaders of world sport and it is both in fighting doping and taking part in competitions and we will continue this work."

Warner told Sky Sports News HQ that the Russian response was "insulting" and said WADA's recommendations should be followed through by the IAAF.

A spokesman for president Vladimir Putin has denied widespread doping in Russian athletics

"The Russian nation needs to demonstrate that it cares about clean sport, can deliver clean athletes, and really has respect for the integrity of athletics competitions, and until it can do that we shouldn't let it back in," he said.

"In fact, if they had a modicum of shame they would probably withdraw themselves to put their house in order, which is something WADA suggested they might do. But the mood music overnight from Moscow suggests that is not the route they will go down.

"Apparently the Russian Sports Minister had a number of allegations and accusations shared with him in September. I don't think you can say they were surprised. 

"It's [the report] forensic and it is relentless in its detail. It's quite shocking. If Russia won't stand up to be counted and deal with the problems that have been set out quite clearly in black and white then the IAAF needs to say, 'Time out, until you are compliant'."