Russia to present its assessment of McLaren’s report to IOC

Moscow, Jan 12 (IANS) Russias independent public anti-doping commission will present its assessment of the second part of the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) Independent Commission report, headed by Canadian sports law professor Richard McLaren.

"We have been recommended by Mr (Thomas) Bach (International Olympic Committee President) to prepare the country's stand on McLaren's report. After the report is scrutinised, a relevant document will be drafted and submitted to the IOC disciplinary commission," the Russian commission's head Vitaly Smirnov said on Wednesday, Tass reports.

"We are going to stick to the plan and avoid reacting to snap external judgement."

According to the second part of the report, delivered early last month in London by the WADA Independent Commission and its chairman, Canadian sports law professor Richard McLaren, over 1,000 Russian athletes competing in summer, winter and Paralympic sports could have been involved in the manipulations system to conceal positive doping tests.

The report claimed in particular that doping samples of 12 Russian medallists of 2014 Winter Games in Sochi had been tampered with. In addition, doping tests of two more Russian athletes, who won four gold medals of the 2014 Sochi Olympics had been falsified as well.

After part two of the report was released on December 9, Russian President Vladimir Putin said there never was such a system, however, he admitted the country was facing doping issues, like many other countries.

Deputy Prime Minister Vitaly Mutko said Russia was accused of taking actions that were not possible at all. He also noted that hard evidence was needed to prove such allegations.