Russia "Sorry" And "Ashamed" Of Cheats

In the letter to the Sunday Times, Russian Sports Minister Vitaly Mutko stops short of admitting the Russian state was complicit in doping

Russia is “very sorry” and “ashamed” of cheating athletes who were not caught by its anti-doping systems, the country’s sports minister has said.

Russia was banned from international competition after a damning report by the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA).

But Vitaly Mutko argues not lifting the ban for the 2016 Rio Olympics would be “unfair and disproportionate” and that clean athletes should not be punished.

They will have been rigorously tested by Rio, he writes in the Sunday Times.

Wada’s report depicted a culture of systematic state-sponsored cheating by Russia’s athletes, with even the secret services involved.

It said the All-Russia Athletics Federation (ARAF), the Russian anti-doping agency (RUSADA), and the Russian Athletics Federation had failed to comply with anti-doping procedures.

“We do not deny having a problem in Russia, and we are doing everything possible at state level to eradicate doping, including punishing athletes and coaches found to have violated anti-doping rules,” Mutko writes.

“But doping is a global problem, not just a Russian problem.”

Mutko says by the time Rio gets under way in August, Russian athletes hoping to compete will have been through a minimum of three anti-doping controls by the sport’s world governing body – the IAAF – in addition to in-competition testing.

“These are men and women who have sacrificed years of their lives striving to compete at the very highest level, who have dreamed of taking part in the Olympic Games, and who now face having their sacrifice wasted and their dreams shattered.”

He adds: “The reasons for the All-Russian Athletics Federation being suspended from the IAAF have been well-documented.

“They are weighty. Serious mistakes have been made by the federation management, along with athletes and coaches who have broken anti-doping rules and neglected the principle of fair play, so fundamental to sport for immediate benefits.

“Let us be clear. We are ashamed of them.”

However, Mutko stops short of admitting that the doping scandal was state sponsored.

“We are very sorry that athletes who tried to deceive us, and the world, were not caught sooner. We are very sorry because Russia is committed to upholding the highest standards in sport and is opposed to anything that threatens the Olympic values.”

Read more on Russia doping allegations:
Russian agents covered up Sochi doping, alleges whistleblower
Athletics doping scandal: Russia federation accepts IAAF ban
Key questions answered following report into Russia athletics doping
What if the trust goes out of sport?

He says measures put in place since the ban – including handing over all testing to the UK Anti-Doping Agency until Russia’s own programme is restored, changing the leadership of Russian athletics and handing over alleged doping cases to the Court of Arbitration for Sport in Lausanne – means testing is now “extra transparent”.

“No other country’s athletes will have been placed under the spotlight to the same degree as ours will be,” Mutko writes. “Such an intense glare does not allow anywhere for cheats to hide.”

He finishes the letter with: “We have done everything that has been asked of us by the IAAF in order to be reinstated.

“It would be unjust to demand all these changes and measures, witness them happen, and then still punish Russia’s athletes.”

BBC

Russia "Sorry" And "Ashamed" Of Cheats

New Russia Doping Cover-Up Alleged

A whistleblower has alleged undercover Russian intelligence agents posed as anti-doping staff to cover up cheating at the Sochi 2014 Winter Olympics.

Former Russian anti-doping agency worker Vitaly Stepanov made the claims on CBS network’s 60 Minutes programme.

He said he was told of a cover-up by Grigory Rodchenkov, the former head of Moscow’s anti-doping laboratory.

Russian sports minister Vitaly Mutko said the new allegations were “speculation”.

Rodchenkov was not interviewed by the programme, which was broadcast on Sunday, but 60 Minutes journalists said they had listened to recordings of him speaking to Stepanov.

The BBC has been unable to independently verify the allegations made in the programme.

Stepanov said Rodchenkov told him that agents from Russia’s security service, the FSB, “worked as doping controls officers during the Sochi Games” and “tried to control every single step of the anti-doping process in Sochi”.

He further claimed he had been told four Russian gold medallists at the Games were using steroids.

The World Anti-doping Agency (WADA) has said it will investigate the new allegations.

Russian athletes have already been banned from international competition by the sport’s world governing body, the International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF), after a Wada commission report alleged “state-sponsored” doping in the country.

The same report said Rodchenkov was complicit, asking for and accepting bribes and destroying blood and urine samples. He later resigned from his role as head of the Moscow lab.

Stepanov and his wife, banned athlete Yuliya Stepanova, were the main whistleblowers in a series of German television documentaries in 2014 which alleged “99%” of Russian athletes were doping. Those claims led to the Wada independent commission being set up.

The IAAF is meeting next month to assess whether Russia has done enough to tackle its doping culture before being allowed to take part in August’s Olympic Games in Rio.

BBC

New Russia Doping Cover-Up Alleged

Four Russian Athletes Fail Drugs Tests

Four Russian athletes have tested positive for the banned drug meldonium.

At least 16 Russian sportspeople, including tennis player Maria Sharapova, have tested positive for the substance since it was banned by the World Anti-Doping Agency on 1 January.

The latest four are yet to be named.

Russia’s athletics federation is suspended from international competition for its alleged involvement in widespread doping, with a decision on potential reinstatement due in May.

Dmitry Shlyakhtin, head of the All-Russia Athletic Federation, said the latest positive tests will not “aggravate” that “complex” decision.

Russia’s international ban – which includes this summer’s Rio Olympic Games – applies only to its athletics federation and followed a Wada report last year that alleged “state-sponsored doping”.

Meldonium

Thought to improve stamina and endurance
Designed to treat ischemia and used by diabetes suffers
Banned by Wada since 1 January 2016
Featured on Wada’s watch list in 2015

Last week, Russia’s four-time breaststroke world champion Yuliya Efimova failed an out-of-competition test.

World number seven Sharapova, meanwhile, failed a drugs test at the Australian Open.

The 28-year-old said she had been taking meldonium since 2006 for health reasons.

According to Wada, a substance may be “considered” for the prohibited list if it meets two of the following three criteria:

Enhances performance
    Poses a threat to athlete health
    Violates the spirit of sport

A substance can be added to the prohibited list without first featuring on the watch list.

Credit: BBC

Four Russian Athletes Fail Drugs Tests

Man "dies" From Taking Vodka

A man who ‘died’ after downing shots of vodka with friends was taken to the morgue before waking up in a freezer, reports claim.

 

He had his “miraculous awakening” after partying too hard with pals, who then called an ambulance to the property in Khasanky, in Russia’s far east.

 

When medics arrived, they declared the man dead and took him to the morgue.

 

Speaking to the local newspaper Khasanskiye Vesti, police spokesman Aleksey Stoyev said:

 

“That night the local morgue was filled to its capacity, the bodies were not only on the shelves, but also on the floor of the freezer room, where our ‘dead’ hero was allocated.”

 

He woke up in the freezer, before stumbling his way out of it towards shocked staff.

 

He added: “At some point, the man woke up, failing to understand where he was.

“It was very dark and cold. “In addition his brain was foggy due to the influence of alcohol.

“In the darkness, he felt someone’s completely cold limbs and in fear rushed to the door.” Police in the remote area, which is populated by 35,000 over 4,100 square kilometers, questioned the man before letting him go. He then returned to the party, seeing his pals were still drinking – but this time in his memory. However, after letting the shocked friends know what happened, their commemoration drinks were transformed into a “re-birthday party”.

–

mirror.co.UK

 

Man "dies" From Taking Vodka

Mubarack Wakasu makes injury return for Las Palmas

Spain based Ghana international Mubarack Wakasu made a winning return from injury for Las Palmas in the Spanish top flight.

The tough tackling midfeilder inspired the struggling liga outfit out of the button for the first time this season.

Las Palmas spanked Granada 4-1 in front of the vociferous fans at the Estadio De Gran Canaria.

Las Palmas headed into the festive fixture on the back of one win in the last fixtures in the top flight.

Quique Setienes men however races into a 32nd minute lead courtesy of Tana.

Sergio Araugo doubled the lead for the rejuvenated side five minutes into the second half before Adalbeto halved the deficit for Granada six minutes later.

Quique Seteine then unleashed Wakasu from the bench to beef up the attacking impetus of the home side and the Ghanaian duly responded with oozing attacking threat since arrival on the 77 minutes.

Jonathan Viera converted an 80th minute spot kick to kill the game as contest before David Lomban put through his own net to make it 4 -1.

Wakaso went into the referee’s note book after an altercation with Christian Biaraghi with four minutes to go as the latter was sent off.

The nomadic Ghanaian has been battling fitness since arrival in spain with 8 appearance to his namePrince Buaben Strikes To Seal Third Place For Hearts In Scotland.

Black Stars midfielder Prince Buaben found the back of the net for Hearts in a five goal thriller at home to Dundee United.

The 27 year old Ghana international capped a perfect night for Heart of Mithlothian with his second goal of the campaign to send the Scottish giants third on the log.

Hearts edged out Dundee United in a nervy 3-2 win to put themselves back in contention for the domestic championship.

The homeside needed an improved performance to salvage their season after a slum in form and duly kept the three points at home in a five goal thriller.

Dundee United shocked their opponents with a second minute spot kick from Billy Makay after a blistering start at the Tyn Castle Park.

Gavin Reily drew parity for the homeside 18 minutes into the first half after series of relentless attack from the home side.

Prince Buaben then shot Hearts into well deserved lead midway through the first half to complete the perfect turn around for the rejuvenated homeside.

Sweden international Osman Sow doubled the lead for Hearts four minutes after Buaben’s screamer to make it 3-1 with 15 minutes to recess.

The first half flurry of goals was extended by the visitors Scott Fraizer who added glamour to the score line in a mad rush for goalx in the opening half.

Hearts held their nerves in the second department of the game to grind out their tenth win of the season.

The title hopefuls now remains 7 points adrift if the top jointly occupied by Celtic and Aberdeen on 43 points each. Prince Buaben has been an ever present fixture for Hearts of Mithlothian with 22 appearance under his belt.

Mubarack Wakasu makes injury return for Las Palmas