State-sponsored doping in Russia at an alarming level as Moscow's former anti-doping authority chief says his country has a serious doping problem
The former head of Russia's anti-doping agency (RUSADA), Ramil Khabriev, said on Sunday that his country has a serious problem with doping violations.
"We have the most violations of anti-doping rules in comparison with other countries… This, of course, shows there's a serious problem. Around 40% of these violations are from youth sports, which is alarming," he said, speaking to Russian broadcaster R-Sport.
Khabriev left his post at RUSADA earlier this month following the publication of a World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) commission report that accused it of covering up doping by the country's athletes.
"In Russia, the doping issue is acute, we can't deny it," he added.
Russia was suspended from international athletics over doping, and must reform in order to return for the next Olympics.
On Thursday, four Russian weightlifters were suspended after failing drug tests at the World Championships in Rio.
Following the WADA report that accused Russia of running a “state-supported" doping program, the International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF) voted to suspend Russia's athletics federation in November.
The report had said that not only the Russian anti-doping agency RUSADA, but also the Russian Athletics Federation as well as Russian Federation supported doping programs for their athletes.
It also confirmed allegations that some Russian doctors and/or laboratory personnel acted as enablers for systematic cheating along with athletics coaches.
Wada's independent anti-doping commission chairman said, "If they don't change, the outcome may be no Russian track and field athletes in Rio. I hope they recognize it is time to change."
The international police body Interpol says it will be coordinating a global investigation into the suspected corruption and doping.
