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Russia's Top Track Coach Resigns Amid Doping Scandals


Russia's top track and field coach has resigned following a series of doping scandals involving Russian athletes.

Valentin Maslakov, 70, has been in charge of overseeing training for all Russian national track and field athletes since 2007.

Valentin Balakhnichev, the head of Russia's track and field association, told the R-Sport agency on January 23 that Maslakov made a "dignified decision" to resign.

Balakhnichev said on January 21 that he was also considering resigning.

He was accused last month by German TV channel ARD of taking a bribe from an athlete in exchange for her not receiving a doping ban.

Maslakov's resignation comes amid a World Anti-Doping Agency investigation into claims of a cover-up of systematic drug use among Russian athletes and three days after doping bans were given to five Russian race-walkers, including three Olympic champions.

Russian Sports Minister Vitaly Mutko told R-Sport that he thinks there will be more resignations.

Based on reporting by AP and Reuters

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