Russian Athletics Federation has until Nov 13 to respond to WADA claims - Minister Mutko
SOCHI. Nov 12 (Interfax) - The Russian Athletics Federation has been given until Friday to respond to claims made by the World Anti-Doping Agency's (WADA) commission, whose conclusions include issues that require explanations, Russia's Sports Minister Vitaly Mutko has said.
"On the whole, when analyzing the commission's conclusions, I can say that there are matters that we understand, know and are ready to correct. There are issues that require certain explanations," Mutko told reporters.
The minister said he is convinced that Russia is able to draw its conclusions at the national level.
"In 72 hours' time, the [Russian] Athletics Federation will have to give its own views on these claims and measures that have been offered to us. We will examine them tomorrow, and if we - the Sports Ministry and the [Russian] Olympic Committee - decide that these measures are insufficient, we will take our own measures," Mutko said.
On Friday, these issues will be addressed at a session of the Council of the International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF), which has threatened to disqualify both the Russian Athletics Federation and Russian athletes, he added.