MOSCOW (Sputnik) — Russia being awarded the right to host the 2018 FIFA World Cup is a key reason behind the doping scandal involving Russian athletes, Sports Minister Vitaly Mutko said Thursday.
"One of the reasons behind the doping scandal is the wish to 'dig' under football due to the 2018 World Cup. First, they tried to go through FIFA, but that failed. Now they're investigating laundering in regard to the application, trying to find a new approach," Mutko told reporters.
According to the minister, Russian sport is experiencing unprecedented pressure, while violations on the part of athletes from other countries go unnoticed.
