The IAAF said Sunday that "it will investigate claims that Russia is flouting demands for anti-doping reforms as it seeks readmission to world track and field in time for the Rio de Janeiro Olympics in August," according to James Ellingworth of the AP.
German TV broadcaster ARD alleged that "a banned Russian coach continued to train prominent athletes and that the acting head of the national anti-doping agency had allowed an athlete to reschedule a supposedly no-notice test."
Separately, the IAAF said that "a key Russian whistleblower who helped to spark Russia's doping scandal, 800-meter runner Yulia Stepanova, is bidding to compete at the Olympics despite the Russian ban."
The IAAF said that "the accusations made Sunday by ARD would be investigated by the taskforce monitoring Russia during its suspension." The IAAF said in an e-mailed statement, "The taskforce will look carefully into the matters raised by the latest documentaries, including discussing them with representatives of RUSAF (the Russian track and field federation)." The IAAF added that taskforce leader Rune Andersen "was given advance access to related audio and video materials." An ARD documentary broadcast Sunday "included footage which appeared to show a Russian coach, Vladimir Mokhnev, continuing to train leading Russian athletes despite being suspended from doing so by the IAAF" (AP, 3/6). REUTERS' Dmitriy Rogovitskiy wrote Vladimir Kazarin, one of the suspended coaches who appeared in the ARD documentary, described the accusations as "an absolute load of rubbish." He said that "they were intended to make sure Olympic superpower Russia was not allowed to compete in the Rio Olympics beginning in August." Russian Sports Minister Vitaly Mutko said it was "eye-opening that a state television channel in Germany is so concerned about the situation in Russia." He added,
"These facts have once again been taken out of context and are an attempt to mislead the public. We have a huge country, with 83 regions. It is possible that a banned coach could be working somewhere, but certainly not with the national team and not at official events." Kazarin "denied having worked since the suspension was imposed on him and said he had been 'left in limbo' by global athletics authorities." He said, "They are deliberately dragging out the process. This is all leading up to making sure that we do not compete in the Olympics. There is very little time left. I believe this is a political request from the Americans" (REUTERS, 3/6).
IAAF UNDER PRESSURE: In London, Ron Lewis wrote IAAF President Sebastian Coe and the governing body of athletics has come "under increased pressure to bar Russia." On Friday, the council of the IAAF "will consider the first report from an inspection taskforce that will decide if Russia are fit to return."
Russia "had hoped that a favourable report would lead to a plan for Russia’s reintegration in time for the Olympics." Coe "has been battling a succession of scandals since he became IAAF president in August but the struggle against doping is likely to define his term in office."
A "positive report on Friday would not allow Russia to compete at the World Indoor Championships, which start in Portland six days later, but it could clear the way for Russia to compete on the track in Rio" (LONDON TIMES, 3/7).
