Breaking News English

new and damning report from World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) has turned athletics world upside down. report focuses on Russia and claims that doping is prevalent throughout Russian athletics. country could be suspended from all international competitions if it does not acknowledge claims made in report and take drastic actions to address them. report goes so far to say that doping in Russian athletics was state sponsored. Senior figures in International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF) will recommend that Russia be suspended from competitions. WADA also called for lifetime bans for 10 Russian athletes.

Russian officials have hit back at findings of WADA report and called them "groundless". Russian Sports Minister Vitaly Mutko commented on possibility of Russia being banned from taking part in 2016 Olympics in Rio de Janeiro. He said it was inconceivable that this could happen. He stated: "I would not like to consider such option. We have young sportsmen, for whom it will be their first Olympics." He added that: "Clean sportsmen should not suffer. They achieve their results by hard work. We must protect them." spokesman for Russian President Vladimir Putin said: "As long as there is no evidence, it is difficult to consider accusations, which appear rather unfounded."