Russia’s Investigative Committee has offered to help FIFA investigate possible doping violations by dozens of its soccer players as the country prepares to host the 2018 World Cup.
FIFA announced this month that it would test past samples of at least 34 Russian footballers for tampering. The announcement follows reports that the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) included Russia’s entire 2014 World Cup squad on a list of athletes that may have benefited from Russia’s state-sponsored doping scheme.
Russia’s Investigative Committee said Thursday that it had sent a request to FIFA to jointly investigate the test results that WADA had shared with the football governing body.
The committee sent the request to ensure “an objective and comprehensive investigation,” the online statement said. Committee spokeswoman Svetlana Petrenko said that investigators offered the same assistance to WADA but did not receive a response.
Meanwhile, reports have emerged over the past month that FIFA’s former chief medical officer and ethics committee chairman have been dismissed in separate incidents as they investigated WADA’s report on Russian doping.
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.
