Russia has announced reforms it hopes will "repair the credibility of its anti-doping body and will enable its athletics team to compete at the Rio Olympics," according to the PA. The Russian ministry of sport announced on Wednesday that all Russian track and field athletes intending to compete in Rio in August "will now undergo a minimum of three independent, externally administered anti-doping controls before the Olympic Games." These controls will be carried out by the IAAF and be "in addition to existing anti-doping procedures." Two independent int'l experts, nominated by WADA, will be based full-time in Moscow from the end of April. They will have “full and free” access for as long as necessary "to ensure the Russian anti-doping system is free of undue interference and is fully independent," the ministry of sport said (PA, 4/20). The AFP reported the identity of the experts "has not been disclosed." Russia is fighting to overturn a ban imposed on its track and field team by the IAAF after a WADA independent commission report found evidence of "state-sponsored doping and mass corruption in Russian athletics." The IAAF is expected to make a decision on "whether to lift the suspension to permit Russian athletes to participate in Rio at an extraordinary Council meeting next month" (AFP, 4/20). The BBC's Dan Roan reported the experts -- nominated by WADA -- will be tasked with ensuring the Russian anti-doping system "is free of any interference and is fully independent." Russian Sports Minister Vitaly Mutko said, "Russia is implementing all necessary reforms. We are 100% supportive of WADA's efforts, alongside the International Olympic Committee (IOC) and IAAF, to stamp out cheating" (BBC, 4/20).
