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Putin: We back investigations into doping allegations

The Canadian sports lawyer worked for a WADA independent commission a year ago, when the organization published findings on doping and corruption in track and field.

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Grigory Rodchenkov, the former head of Russia’s anti-doping agency who said that the Sochi lab tampered with samples, Vitaly Stepanov, the whistleblower who gave key evidence in the Russian athletics scandal, and Beckie Scott, chair of WADA’s athletes committee, all expressed a need for transparency.

Adding to the questions over doping, the International Olympic Committee said on Wednesday up to 31 athletes could be banned from Rio 2016 following re-tests using newer methods of doping samples from the Beijing Olympics in 2008.

“We are having to deal very firmly with a never-ending set of issues in Russian Federation”.

The Olympic sprint champion Usian Bolt said these doping findings has marked a rough point for athletics. The Times interview said Rodchenkov had fled to Los Angeles.

WADA is now investigating the new allegations over Sochi, while the U.S. Justice Department has opened an investigation into the accusations of state-sponsored doping. “It should be an honest battle”.

“The results of the WADA investigation will also greatly influence the nature of the participation of Russian athletes in the Olympic Games Rio 2016”, Bach said.

“WADA is grateful to Richard McLaren who has, once again, agreed to join a WADA Investigation Team”, says Sir Craig Reedie.

“But this wave (of investigations into doping) is taking place against a backdrop of politically-motivated restrictions towards our country”.

“I have instructed the sports ministry and all the Russian government agencies and institutions to provide WADA inspectors with every assistance in organising their work”.

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The former director of the Russian anti-doping laboratory told the New York Times last week that he provided athletes will banned steroids ahead of the games in London and Sochi.

IOC: Sochi Doping Allegations Could Show 'Unprecedented Criminality'