Russia Vows to Cooperate to Bring Athletes to Rio Olympics

(ATR) Sports minister Vitaly Mutko says Russia is "ready to do anything" to ensure clean Russian athletes compete at the Rio Games, backtracking on earlier criticism of the IAAF.

"The Russian government, the country's president, I as a minister, are ready to do anything for sport to be 'clean’," he was quoted by Sputnik News Wednesday. "We never said we don't have problems. But there are huge problems all over the world. And we have them as well."

Mutko has struck a more conciliatory tone after the Olympic summit’s decision Tuesday to uphold the IAAF’s ban on Russia through the Rio Games. Crucially, the IOC has left the door ajar for Russian track and field athletes – who have trained outside the corrupt doping system – to compete subject to additional drug tests and evaluation by the IAAF.

A Russian sports ministry statement said it respected the IOC’s decision at the summit, a gathering of around 20 Olympic stakeholders, and held out hope that some of its athletes would be cleared to participate in Rio.

"We have long stated that individual athletes in Russia are willing to demonstrate their innocence and prove they are clean," the statement said. "Our Olympians are ready to go over and above all the normal anti-doping tests to show their commitment to clean and fair sport.

"For example, all track and field athletes had already agreed to undergo a minimum of three additional anti-doping controls carried out by the IAAF before the Olympic Games. We look forward to working closely with the international federations to determine how to assess eligibility."

Before the summit, Mutko had lashed out at the IAAF, variously saying it should be disbanded and accusing the world athletics body of trying to "destroy" athletics in Russia.

The IAAF and IOC could be on a collision course about whether Russian athletes cleared for Rio will be allowed to compete under a Russian flag, favored by Thomas Bach, or neutral one proposed by athletics chief Sebastian Coe.

An IAAF spokeswoman tells Around the Rings there are "no conflicts", although there was a "discussion to be had over the two different sets of rules".

The IAAF will shortly reveal the process by which Russian athletes can participate at the Rio Olympics, including the extra drug testing and evaluation.

"We will issue by tomorrow the latest, the criteria for the Russian individual athletes aiming to participate in Rio under the neutral status," an IAAF source told ATR.

ATR is told that the IAAF’s doping review board will assess each application on an individual basis.

Whistleblower Yulia Stepanov, who helped expose Russia’s state-sponsored doping regime, filed her application at the weekend. But the Canada-based middle distance runner must await the full IAAF criteria before her case can be processed.

The IAAF’s doping review panel will have to work fast if any Russians are to compete at the European Athletics Championships in Amsterdam starting July 6.

The British Olympic Association was the only NOC which issued a reaction to the IOC decisions made at the Olympic summit.

"The BOA supports any measure that ensures clean athletes can have peace of mind when they go to the start line and that they compete equal to all others," chief executive officer Bill Sweeney said.

"The measures taken by the IAAF and supported by the IOC are both necessary and strong. In making these difficult decisions anyone that is doping, or is considering it, should take note - you will be caught and sanctioned.

"It is important that between now and the start of competition in Rio the whole of sport demonstrates its backing both for the anti-doping authorities and the advancement of clean sport education throughout the world," he added.

Reported by Mark Bisson

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