Russian Prime Minister Dmitri Medvedev admitted that his country has an "unacceptable problem" with doping, but that Russian athletes are not the only ones who cheat.
In an interview with several Russian media, he said that he wants a strong reaction to the doping problem and measures that will clean up the sport.
"We have a problem with doping and that is unacceptable. We need strong measures, stronger than so far. But are we the only sinners? I think there is a clear and endless Russophobia, which should stop," said Medvedev.
On Monday, the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) will decide whether to suspend Russian athletes from all international competitions.
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A special WADA commission handed down such a four-year sentence after it found that Russia had failed to comply with the 2017 agreement and had not published the real list of doping tests, but had removed hundreds of positive findings and planted false ones.
Yesterday, Yuri Ganus, the president of the Russian Anti-Doping Agency (RUSADA), in an open letter to the public, asked all the coaches of the Russian national teams in all sports to resign, and advocated for international help in combating doping.
He confirmed a few days ago that there are many irregularities in the Russian sports system.
"There was a lot of manipulation, and I and my colleagues were not allowed access to the laboratories. Worst of all - our athletes have become hostages of this situation and the actions of sports officials, who still operate according to the old, outmoded model, which is destroying our sport," Ganus said.
He also revealed that two coaches, who were suspended by the decision of RUSADA, are still working in Russian sports.
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