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Russia's anti-doping sports agency to remain, sports minister says

Vitaly Mutko said Rusada is already working with the World Anti-Doping Agency to effect changes in Russia.

By Ed Adamczyk
Russian Sports Minister Vitaly Mutko (L) and Russian Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev at the government's athletic training center in Sochi in 2009. Photo by Anatoli Zhdanov/UPI.
Russian Sports Minister Vitaly Mutko (L) and Russian Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev at the government's athletic training center in Sochi in 2009. Photo by Anatoli Zhdanov/UPI. | License Photo

MOSCOW, Nov. 30 (UPI) -- Rusada, Russia's sports anti-doping agency, will not be disbanded despite its suspension by the international anti-doping agency, Russia's sports minister said Monday.

An independent commission organized by the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) was strongly critical, in a scathing report issued in early November, of Rusada's involvement in allowing and supplying Russian athletes with performance-enhancing drugs. The All-Russia Athletic Federation, the national anti-doping laboratory in Moscow, the Russian Sports Ministry and several coaches and athletes were also identified in the report for violations of world protocols regarding performance-enhancing drugs. All Russian athletes have been indefinitely banned by the International Association of Athletics Federations, the ruling body of international sports. The ban was accepted by Russian sports organizing bodies, with promises to cooperate with inspectors in changing the country's drug-testing system.

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Although there have been reports that Rusada will be shut down in favor of a newly-established agency, Russian Sports Minister Vitaly Mutko said Monday it will not be disbanded. A delegation, led by Mutko, met with WADA representatives last week to restore Rusada's status.

"No doubt, Rusada will remain as an organization. We have started working (with WADA)," Mutko said.

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