Russian federal investigators said Friday that they sent WADA "proof" refuting claims by whistleblower Grigory Rodchenkov of a state-sponsored doping program at the Sochi 2014 Olympics, according to the AFP. The committee said that it sent WADA documents "relating to the registration of doping samples that contradicted the whistle blower's allegations." The body, which reports directly to the Kremlin, opened an investigation into the scandal in '16. The Russian Investigations Committee said, "The investigators have collected objective proof refuting Rodchenkov's deceitful evidence concerning the delivery of athletes' doping samples to the Sochi anti-doping laboratory" (AFP, 5/11).
ADMITTING WOMEN: REUTERS' Jack Tarrant reported the club scheduled to stage the golf tournament during the Tokyo 2020 Games granted three women full membership "after being warned that it could be stripped as an Olympic host if it does not change its discriminatory policy." The Kasumigaseki Country Club "scrapped" its male-only membership in March '17 after the IOC stated it "would find another venue" if the policy remained in place. The club said on Friday that it granted three women equal membership rights "for the first time in four decades" (REUTERS, 5/11).
