Putin Orders 'Open' Inquiry Into Russia Athletics Doping Claims

  • Anyone found doping must be held accountable, Putin says
  • Problem isn't confined to Russian sport, president says

Russia Athletics

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President Vladimir Putin ordered officials to conduct an internal investigation into international allegations of a systematic doping program involving Russia’s track-and-field athletes and coaches.

Sports Minister Vitaliy Mutko and all Russian sports officials should offer “the most open and professional collaboration with international anti-doping agencies,” Putin said late Wednesday in Sochi, which hosted the 2014 Winter Olympics, according to a transcript on the Kremlin’s website. “We in Russia must do everything to eliminate this problem.”