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World Doping Experts To Conduct Followup Audit Of Russian Agency


WADA experts were given access to the Moscow drug-testing laboratory for the first time last week.
WADA experts were given access to the Moscow drug-testing laboratory for the first time last week.

World anti-doping experts are expected In Moscow, as part of a follow-up audit of the Russian anti-doping agency after conditionally reinstating it earlier this year.

The scheduled December 11 visit comes as Russian sports continue to be shadowed by doubts about the government's anti-doping efforts, doubts that stem from revelations of a widespread, government-orchestrated doping scheme during the 2014 Sochi Olympics.

Russia has accepted that doping has been widespread, but authorities in Moscow continue to deny any of it was state-sponsored.

In September, the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) reinstated Russia in a controversial decision that was made on condition that Moscow recognize the findings of its report and allow access to the test samples stored by the Russia national agency, RUSADA.

WADA has warned that failure to provide access to all of the data from RUSADA's Moscow lab by the end of 2018 could lead to another suspension.

WADA experts were given access to the Moscow drug-testing laboratory for the first time last week.

Earlier this month, the world governing body for track and field, the IAAF, upheld a 2015 ban imposed against Russia over widespread state-sponsored doping until Russia meets key conditions.

With reporting by Reuters

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