Russia will learn if its athletes are banned from 2016 Olympics

AFTER the World Anti-Doping Agency revelations of alleged ‘state sponsored doping’ by Russian athletes, Russia will find out from the world´s sporting authorities on Friday November 13 if they can participate in the Olympic Games next year.

The doping report recommended that five athletes and five coaches from the country should receive lifetime doping bans and its authors called the scandal ‘a different scale of corruption.’

Russia has addressed the claims and in a bid to secure entry to the Games they have cited ‘irregularities’ in its system for drug testing.

The International Association of Athletics Federations (IAFF) will discuss Russia’s reply to the controversy on Friday, and the decision on the country’s Olympic fate is expected to be made public shortly after.

Russian Sports Minister Vitaly Mutko has stated that Russia won’t boycott the 2016 Olympics if they end up with a ban.

“Russia is against a boycott. Russia is against political interference in sport,” he said.

The country has vowed to create a new anti-doping agency with acting president of the Russian athletics federations Vadim Zelichenok saying: “All these irregularities happened under the old leadership of the Russian athletics federation and took place some time ago.

“If there are any questions or proposals for us from Wada, the IAAF and the International Olympic Committee, or some roadmap proposals, we are ready to re-accredit the laboratory, or reform it, or create a new anti-doping organisation,” he confirmed.