Doping probe deepens into Russian sports

World Today

There’s been a mixed reaction from Russia to claims that its athletes have been involved in widespread, state-sanctioned doping.

First, the Kremlin dismissed the accusations contained in the World Anti-Doping Agency report. Now, Russia’s Sports Ministry says it’s open to cooperating more closely with anti-doping authorities.

The country’s anti-doping agency says it’s shut the Moscow lab named as having deliberately destroyed over 1400 test samples, including ones used during the Sochi Olympics.

Meanwhile the mood in Russia has been a defensive and suspicious one, and here at the country’s National Olympic Committee, many say the country’s being picked on unfairly. Some even think the allegations could be part of a political ploy to punish Russia for its involvement in Ukraine.

Sport has long been a matter of national pride in Russia. Vladimir Putin’s made hosting events like the Sochi Winter Olympics and the 2018 World Cup integral to the country’s prestige – and winning is all-important.

But if Russia doesn’t cooperate with the World Anti-Doping Agency findings, come the Rio de Janeiro Olympics in summer 2016, its athletes may find they’re not even on the starting blocks.

Lorna Shaddick reports from Moscow.


Patrick Rishe on doping scandals in sports

CCTV America interviewed Patrick Rishe. He is the CEO of Sports Impacts and the Director of the Sports Business Program at Washington University in St. Louis.