Russia Seeks U.S. Help in Rodchenkov Investigation

(ATR) Russia’s Investigative Committee wants the United States’ help to verify claims made by former Russian Anti-Doping Laboratory director Grigory Rodchenkov who says he facilitated a vast doping program for Russian athletes.

"We have sent a request on legal assistance to the U.S. competent bodies so that they interrogate him on our questions," Investigative Committee spokesperson Vladimir Markin told Vesti FM radio station. "Let's see how they will implement this request."

In May, Rodchenkov revealed to the New York Times that he had personally exchanged the tainted urine samples of Russian medalists at the Sochi 2014 Winter Olympics for clean samples in order to avert detection. Rodchenkov says he provided athletes with a three-steroid alcoholic cocktail in the lead up to the Games.

After the WADA Independent Commission report that detailed the extend of Russia’s flawed anti-doping systems – particularly among track and field athletes – came out in November 2015, Rodchenkov says he was forced to resign from his position and fled to Los Angeles for fear of his safety.

Markin says all of these claims by Rodchenkov could simply be made up to tarnish the names of Russian athletes.

"Judging by his words and his hysterical explanations, it is not ruled out that this was done to discredit the Russian anti-doping system and provoke a scandal," Markin says.

The Investigative Committee launched its inquiry into Rodchenkov for abuses of power in June along with several officials from the All-Russia Athletics Federation. The investigation is part of an ongoing effort by Russian sports bodies and government to prove that Russia can once again be trusted with international competition.

Although ARAF and the Russian Anti-Doping Agency have made progress since the original suspension, the IAAF Council upheld the ban of Russian track and field athletes from the Rio 2016 Olympics last week.

Russian sports minister Vitaly Mutko says approximately 67 athletes have filed appeals with the IAAF to be evaluated individually. If athletes can prove they are far enough removed from the country’s doping controls they may be granted permission to compete at Rio under the neutral Olympic flag.

Written by Kevin Nutley

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