Vladimir Putin outlines anti-doping plans and reiterates insistence of no state-sponsored doping

Vladimir Putin continued to insist there was no state-sponsored doping in Russia after announcing plans for an independent anti-doping system.

Russian President Putin told a meeting, concerning preparations for the 2019 Winter Universiade in Krasnoyarsk, that he hoped the new system would be set up with the involvement of foreign anti-doping experts.

Putin said plans were in place for a new laboratory to be built in the grounds of Moscow State University.

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Russia's track and field athletes remain banned from international competition, having missed out on the Olympic Games in Rio last summer, and more than 40 have since applied to compete as neutrals.

"We are creating a new system of fighting against doping," Putin said.

"We will transfer this system from the sports ministry to an independent organisation, as has been done in many countries in the world.

"The system of anti-doping control which has existed until now didn't work. This is our fault and we should acknowledge it.

"But I'd like to stress once again that there has never been, is not and, I hope, will never be any state-run doping programme in Russia."

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