Moscow: Russia’s sports minister on Thursday said the country has carried out the anti-doping measures demanded by the world athletics governing body IAAF, adding that Russia was ready to help doping officers gain access to athletes.
Minister Vitaly Mutko spoke after a damning new report by the World Anti-Doping Agency (Wada) said hundreds of Russian athletes had declined to be tested and as the IAAF Council is set to meet Friday to decide whether to lift the ban against Russian athletes.
“At the end of the day we have fulfilled all the criteria, everything that they demanded of us. All the athletes are under control,” Mutko told Interfax news agency.
He said he would read the new Wada report, issued on Wednesday, and write to its president Craig Reedie to tell him: “If you need government help, inform us, don’t wait until the last minute.”
“We will do everything possible for doping inspectors to visit any city, even a closed city,” Mutko said, referring to Russian cities with controlled public access due to secret installations.
“Just make lists in advance and you will get passes, you will visit them.”
