But Putin, speaking at a news conference in the southern Russian city of Sochi, also said he hoped the actions of the World Anti-Doping Agency in respect to Russian athletes were not politically-motivated.
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Thirty-one athletes from six sports could be banned from this year’s Rio Olympics after failing dope tests when 454 samples were reexamined from the 2008 Games, the International Olympic Committee said on Tuesday.
WADA suspended Russian Federation from taking part in athletic events after an investigation revealed a large-scale, state-sponsored doping programme.
“Should the investigation prove the allegations true it would represent a shocking new dimension in doping with an, until now, unprecedented level of criminality”, Bach said.
Earlier this week, the International Olympic Committee said it would start re-testing samples from the 2014 Sochi Winter Games after allegations of tarnished samples were made last week by Rodchenkov.
Bach has consistently refused to criticise Russia, despite them now being banned by the International Association of Athletics Federations after the WADA Independent Commission found evidence of state-supported doping.
In an interview published by The New York Times last week, Grigory Rodchenkov, the former head of Russia’s anti-doping laboratory, detailed how Russian athletes cheated on drug tests in Sochi.
Putin said he ordered the sports ministry to offer all possible assistance to WADA inspectors. “Only in that case it will be interesting for athletes, as well as millions of fans and spectators”.
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With five months to go before the Rio Olympics, there are quite a few doping issues involving countries all over the globe. “Should the allegations be proven true, we will apply our zero tolerance policy, not only with the athletes, but also with regards to everyone implicated within our reach”. “It’s not clear why he’s talking about it, that’s why we asked the prosecutors to question him”.
