SOCHI (Sputnik) – On Monday, a commission from the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) issued a report accusing Russia of numerous violations of global anti-doping codes and recommended the country be banned from international athletics, including the 2016 Olympics.
"So far it is an unconfirmed fact, in my opinion, and I hope that everything will work out positively for our national athletics team and our athletes will join in the Olympic games," Borzakovskiy said after consultations with Russian President Vladimir Putin.
President of the Russian Olympic Committee Alexander Zhukov stressed after the talks that banning Russian athletes from the Olympics would be a violation of their rights.
"I am certain that Russian athletes are clean and honest, they have never resorted to doping and are subject to numerous tests at various international competitions, as well as in Russia, nobody has the right to take away their opportunity to take part in Olympic games," Zhukov said.
On Tuesday, WADA temporarily removed its accreditation of the Moscow-based Antidoping Center following accusations against Russia of breaching anti-doping regulations.
On Wednesday, Russian President Putin ordered Sports Minister Vitaly Mutko to conduct an internal investigation into alleged widespread doping practices among Russian athletes.
Mutko said on Wednesday that he was ready to discuss a new candidate for the post of the head of Russia's anti-doping laboratory with foreign partners and assured that Russia was ready to complete the re-accreditation procedure in a six-month period.
