IAAF Should Recognize Internal Problems Instead of Demonizing Russia

Russian Sports Minister Vitaly Mutko said that the International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF) should carry out reforms.

MOSCOW (Sputnik) — The International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF) should recognize its own problems, carry out internal reforms rather than demonizing Russia over international problems with doping, Russian Sports Minister Vitaly Mutko said Friday.

"The international athletics has accumulated serious problems. And one of the main problems is a nontransparent work with doping. But only one country has been punished. It would be more honest of them to admit that they do not have a system [in the IAAF], they are covering up,… they should carry out reforms, 'reward' everyone according to his work. But it turned out that we [Russia] have taken the fall," Mutko told R-Sport news agency.

In 2015, World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA)'s Independent Commission issued a report accusing Russia of numerous breaches of global anti-doping regulations, which led to Russia's suspension from the IAAF.

On Thursday, the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) rejected the Russian appeal upholding the IAAF's ban on Russian athletes participating in the 2016 Rio Olympics. Darya Klishina, who trains outside of the country, is the only Russian athlete who was permitted by the IAAF to compete as a neutral participant.