Mutko doesn't rule out extra decisions on fight against doping in Russia before IAAF meeting
MOSCOW. Nov 13 (Interfax) - Russian Sports Minister Vitaly Mutko said certain decisions will be made in Russia on Friday before the IAAF council meeting in connecting with the doping scandal in track-and-field athletics.
"I don't rule out that we will make some decisions today before the IAAF meeting," Mutko told reporters on Friday.
He said he will inform International Olympic Committee Thomas Bach in writing and otherwise about the situation with the WADA commission report.
Mutko called Bach's statements "on the protection of clean [from doping] athletes and the fact that Russia can deal with the problem independently" encouraging.
The minister reiterated that the use of doping by athletes is not only a Russian problem. "I have read the WADA [commission] report four times. The main conclusions made in it are that the problem of doping is related not only to Russia, it's a global problem," Mutko said.
"Fifty three countries are higher than us [as regards doping]. And nothing happens there," Mutko said.
At the same time, he emphasized that Russia "is one of the leaders [in the sports world] and therefore it does not need indulgences."
He also reported "the colossal pressure exerted on IAAF President Sebastian Coe over the WADA commission report.
"I have talked to IAAF President Sebastian Coe, I want to assure you that I will not allow anti-Russian tendencies. I am absolutely confident that Russia has no more problems than some other countries do and I am absolutely confident that there are no more problems in track-and-field athletics than in other sports. We will do everything to make this decision fair and clear," Mutko said.
The IAAF will convene for an emergency meeting on Friday evening to discuss the issue of possible sanctions on Russian track-and-field athletics following the exposing report released by an independent commission of the World Anti-Doping Agency.