Mutko calls Rodchenkov's statements saying he was made to substitute doping test samples "nonsense"
MOSCOW. May 20 (Interfax) - It is unclear what made Grigory Rodchenkov, former head of the Moscow Anti-Doping Laboratory, make statements on the alleged system for substituting doping test samples at the Sochi Olympics, Russian Sports Minister Vitaly Mutko told Interfax.
"It's unclear why he is saying that, and therefore we have asked prosecutors to study his words," Mutko said.
He said that Rodchenkov has been recognized as the best specialist in the world on doping issues more than once and has dozens of patents for methods for detecting prohibited substances in athletes' bodies.
"It's unclear and it's even a shame. Such colossal work was done to create an anti-doping system and now [statements are being made that] someone gave someone something," Mutko said.
He called the statements by Rodchenkov that he was allegedly made to substitute doping test samples for clean ones "nonsense."
"Who can make [a person do that]? It's nonsense," Mutko said.
Mutko said that people who are fired or punished for doping, who then leave the country, are a big problem. As an example, he mentioned athlete Yulia Stepanova, who was found to have used doping in Russia and was disqualified. She then left Russia and told German journalists from ARD television about the alleged systematic use of doping in Russian track and field athletics. Her husband, who was also fired from the Russian Anti-Doping Agency, later told the American press about the substitution of test samples at the Sochi Olympics.
"I am not against Yulia Stepanova, forget about her. But it turned out that she trained, used doping, prohibited substances, she and her coach did something, her husband covered for her. We crack this system, he is fired, she is disqualified, she leaves and begins accusing the whole country," the sports minister said.
On May 12, The New York Times published material citing Rodchenkov, which contained allegations that dozens of Russian athletes, including 15 medal winners at the 2014 Winter Olympics in Sochi, had used doping and that the former head of the Moscow laboratory had helped substitute doping test samples.
WADA reacted to this information with a decision to conduct an investigation and publicly announce the conclusions.
The executive committee of the International Olympic Committee, for its part, asked WADA to conduct a fully-fledged investigation into possible irregularities in the Sochi anti-doping laboratory during the 2014 Winter Olympics.
