Russian Sport Minister Vitaly Mutko says no one will face criminal charges over the worst doping scandal in Russia’s history, sports portal Sportfakt.ru reported Friday.
As many as 30 Russian athletes have tested positive for meldonium — banned by the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) on Jan. 1, 2016 — including tennis star Maria Sharapova, four-time world swimming champion Yulia Yefimova, European figure skating championship medalist Ekaterina Bobrova and world speed skating champion Pavel Kulizhnikov.
"The General Prosecutor's Office carefully examined the report in question and did not find a single legally supported fact to open any kind of case," Mutko said, Sportfakt.ru reported.
On Thursday it was reported that more than 15 players from Russia’s national under-18 men’s hockey World Championships roster had tested positive for the banned drug, prompting the entire 30-man squad to be replaced by under-17 players for next week’s IIHF World Under-18 Championships in the U.S. city of Grand Forks, North Dakota.
Mutko said the changes to Russian sports teams were in relation to “minimizing risks” and “limiting the loss” for Russian sport.
"If an athlete or a group of athletes took [meldonium] in October or November, we don't know if it'll be detected or not [in testing]," the minister said, the state-run TASS news agency reported.
A Message from The Moscow Times:
Dear readers,
We are facing unprecedented challenges. Russia's Prosecutor General's Office has designated The Moscow Times as an "undesirable" organization, criminalizing our work and putting our staff at risk of prosecution. This follows our earlier unjust labeling as a "foreign agent."
These actions are direct attempts to silence independent journalism in Russia. The authorities claim our work "discredits the decisions of the Russian leadership." We see things differently: we strive to provide accurate, unbiased reporting on Russia.
We, the journalists of The Moscow Times, refuse to be silenced. But to continue our work, we need your help.
Your support, no matter how small, makes a world of difference. If you can, please support us monthly starting from just $2. It's quick to set up, and every contribution makes a significant impact.
By supporting The Moscow Times, you're defending open, independent journalism in the face of repression. Thank you for standing with us.
Remind me later.
