Anti-doping panel formed in Russia

Moscow, July 22

Russian President Vladimir Putin called for a new anti-doping commission to be created to shape Russia's future strategy, as the country faces possible exclusion from the Rio Olympics.

Putin's intervention came as former Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev wrote to International Olympic Committee president Thomas Bach to oppose a blanket ban on the Russian team, saying that a collective sanction was “unacceptable.” Putin did not directly address allegations that Russian government officials helped to cover up  doping cases, but said the state was resolutely opposed to performance-enhancing drug use. “In sport there is not and cannot be a place for any doping,” Putin said. “Sport must be clean, and an athlete's health must be properly protected.”

He added there was a need to “cooperate closely” on doping with the International Olympic Committee and the World Anti-Doping Agency, the latter of which welcomed Thursday's court ruling to uphold a ban on Russia's track and field team.

Putin told a meeting of cabinet that the commission, under the direction of the Russian Olympic Committee, would provide “rapid development and tough control for the effective realization of a national plan on the fight against doping.” — AP