Russia commits to reform on anti-doping
Last Updated: 27/11/15 5:02pm
Russia's sports minister has committed to bringing in the changes needed for the country to be declared compliant with the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) code.
Vitaly Mutko met WADA's director general David Howman in Frankfurt, Germany, for the first time since the Russian anti-doping agency (RUSADA) was declared non-compliant on November 18 which followed the athletics doping scandal in the country.
A WADA statement said: "During the meeting, Minister Mutko committed fully to the process and the changes required of RUSADA if they are to achieve compliance status."
Russia has been banned from international athletics after a WADA independent commission found evidence of systemic doping and cover-ups. It needs to be declared compliant or face being excluded from next year's Olympics in Rio.
Howman said: "WADA is pleased with the assurances provided by Minister Mutko to address the issues raised in WADA's independent commission report.
"There is, however, still much work to be done by RUSADA.
"It is imperative that Russia's anti-doping programme be overhauled in order to protect the rights of clean athletes worldwide and to re-establish public confidence in Russian athletics."
