An independent commission created by the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) on allegations of state-sponsored doping in the Russian team during the 2014 Sochi Winter Olympics is to announce its findings later today.
If the allegations are proved, the report could see the entire Russian team banned from taking part in next month's summer Olympics in Rio de Janeiro.
Russian track and field athletes are already unable to take part in international competitions, including the Olympics, as punishment from the International Association of Athletics' Federation (IAFF) for alleged widespread doping.
A letter leaked to the press Sunday revealed that head of the U.S. Anti-Doping Agency, Travis Tygart, was calling to on the International Olympics Committee (IOC) for the ban to be extended to the entire Russian team.
The WADA commission was created to investigate claims by former head of the Moscow anti-doping lab Grigory Rodchenkov, who claimed that a group of Russian sportsmen, including at least 15 medalists, had used performance-enhancing drugs in Sochi with the help of Russian security services and the Sports Ministry.
If negative, the findings could put further pressure on Russia, which is currently challenging the ban in the Court of Arbitration for Sport. The court is expected to announced its decision on July 21.
Russian Sports Minister Vitaly Mutko has consistently denied all allegations throughout consecutive doping scandals. “With respect to the commission, they do not determine the fate of the world of sport,” he said in an interview with British newspaper The Times last month.
Presidential spokesman Dmitry Peskov condemned the New York Times leak on Monday, saying that the issue was “too serious” to use “hypothetical information.” The Kremlin is categorically against using performance-enhancing drugs in sport, he said.
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