Russia ready to continue improving its anti-doping system - Sports Minister Mutko
VLADIMIR. Oct 12 (Interfax) - Russia has been implementing and will continue to implement recommendations from its foreign partners on reforming its anti-doping system, Sports Minister Vitaly Mutko said.
"I'd like to say once again that we have never turned a blind eye to doping problems in our country. We understand and admit them. We are ready to improve [the national anti-doping system]. We have conducted an investigation, we have made all possible steps to accommodate our partners, and we will continue doing this, but we want such a simple thing as to be listened to," Mutko told journalists on Wednesday.
Following a meeting of the presidential council on the development of physical culture and sports on Tuesday, the president met with the presidents of some international federations to hear about actions taken by Russia to oppose doping.
Mutko said investigators had summoned him for questioning twice during an investigation into money laundering charges related to the 2018 FIFA World Cup bidding campaign and that he had to answer some unpleasant questions.
"I was questioned by investigators, professional guys. They asked me if I invited members of the FIFA Executive Committee to Russia. I answered that I did and that I paid for business class trips and five-star hotels for them. They [the investigators] immediately wrote something down. Then I showed them the FIFA regulations, which say that this wasn't banned. And so what? They were surprised. Russia is not doing anything unlawful regarding doping, either," he said.
