Russian President Vladimir Putin Promises To Cooperate To Eradicate 'Poison' Of Doping

Russian President Vladimir Putin pledged that Russia will cooperate with int'l officials to eradicate the "poison" of doping, but said that "it was wrong to suspend athletes who have not been accused of cheating," according to the AP. Putin suggested the IAAF's blanket suspension of Russia’s entire track and field team "was unfair" because it penalized athletes for the cheating of others. Russia "was suspended by the IAAF after a World Anti-Doping Agency panel accused the country of operating a widespread, state-sponsored doping program and covering up positive tests." Putin promised to make sure that Russian officials work with int'l bodies to fight doping, which he described as a "poison for people." Putin: "Russia must and will be open for a joint fight on doping" (AP, 12/17). REUTERS' Lidia Kelly wrote "the entire management of Russia's scandal-hit anti-doping watchdog, RUSADA, has resigned." Among those who resigned was RUSADA's Acting Dir Nikita Kamayev (REUTERS, 12/17).