More than 1,000 Russian athletes in about 30 sports took part in an &quot;institutional conspiracy&quot; to use banned drugs at the Sochi and London Olympics and other global events, doping investigator Richard Mclaren said Friday.

International sport had been &quot;hijacked&quot; by the Russians, according to the the Canadian lawyer who has previously accused Russia of &quot;state-sponsored&quot; cheating.

He said in his new report for the World Anti-Doping Agency that he had confirmed the switching of samples at the Sochi Winter Olympics in 2014 and that salt and coffee was&nbsp;used to manipulate samples when checked by international experts.

More than 1,000 athletes in the summer and winter Olympics and Paralympics &quot;can be identified as being involved in or benefiting from manipulations to conceal positive testing,&quot; the report said.

Information on 695 summer and winter Olympic athletes had been sent to sports federations. He gave no names but said &quot;well known and elite level athletes&quot; had tests declared to WADA &quot;falsified&quot;.

&quot;A cover-up that evolved over the years from uncontrolled chaos to an instutionalised and disciplined medal-winning strategy and conspiracy,&quot; McLaren said as he introduced his report.

McLaren&#39;s report said the doping started in about 2011 but the sports ministry under Vitaly Mutko, now a deputy prime minister, took control from 2012 fearing that the cheating would be detected.

&quot;An institutional conspiracy existed across summer and winter sports athletes who participated with Russian officials within the ministry of sport and its infrastructure,&quot; said McLaren.&nbsp;

&quot;These activities were supported by senior Russian officials, including the minister and deputy minister of sport.&quot;

Mutko, who has denied any involvement, was not personally named. He was barred from going to the Rio Olympics by the International Olympic Committee in August but has since been promoted by President Vladimir Putin.

Asked his reaction to Mutko&#39;s promotion, McLaren said &quot;No I am not surprised&quot;. &nbsp;&nbsp;

&quot;For years, international sports competitions have unknowingly been hijacked by the Russians,&quot; he told a press conference.

&quot;Coaches and athletes have been competing on an uneven field. Sports fans and spectators have been deceived.&quot;

McLaren said Russian officials could be trusted &quot;but they need to reform themselves&quot;.

The system was &quot;refined&quot; in the buildup to the 2012 London Olympics and then further for the 2013 Universiade, the world athletics championships in Moscow in 2013 and particularly for the 2014 Sochi Games.

Russia won 24 golds, 26 silvers and 32 bronze medals in London with no failed tests at the time.

He said there was evidence that the &quot;washout&quot; of samples before London was taking part on a weekly basis in at least athletics and weightlifting.

&quot;The Russian team corrupted the London Games on an unprecedented scale.&quot;

McLaren&#39;s first report, released in July, led to more than 110 Russian athletes being banned from the Rio Olympics&nbsp;but also caused a major rift between the IOC and WADA.

He said this infighting has got to end to be able to tackle global doping.

The report is a huge new blow to Russia, which is already battling to get back into the International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF) because of an earlier inquiry.

Russia has said the earlier McLaren report lacked detail and needed more investigation.

New Sports Minister Pavel Kolobkov, a former Olympic champion fencer, said Thursday that the country had &quot;declared war&quot; against doping. There are many doubters over Russian efforts however.

The IAAF and WADA are keeping to their suspension of Russia, meaning the country may not be able to compete at the world athletics championships in August.

WADA president Craig Reedie said last month that Russia was a long way off returning to the global body.

Anti-doping officials have complained about a lack of access to closed cities where athletes are training and also to a Moscow laboratory where samples sought by international sporting federations are kept.

Athletes from Russia and other East European states have dominated the list of cheats caught in new tests on 1,243 samples taken at the 2008 Beijing and 2012 London Olympics.

Tennis star Maria Sharapova has been among a host of Russians ordered banned because of doping failures over the past 18 months.

IOC medical director Richard Budgett said Wednesday that there is more bad news to come from the London tests which are not yet finished.

&quot;There will be many more to come in the coming weeks and months,&quot; Budgett warned without saying which countries were involved. 
 
(AFP)

'For years, international sports competitions have unknowingly been hijacked by the Russians,' doping investigator, Richard Mclaren

More than 1,000 Russian athletes in about 30 sports took part in an "institutional conspiracy" to use banned drugs at the Sochi and London Olympics and other global events, doping investigator Richard Mclaren said Friday. International sport had been "hijacked" by the Russians, according to the the Canadian lawyer who has previously accused Russia of "state-sponsored" cheating. He said in his new report for the World Anti-Doping Agency that he had confirmed the switching of samples at the Sochi Winter Olympics in 2014 and that salt and coffee was used to manipulate samples when checked by international experts. More than 1,000 athletes in the summer and winter Olympics and Paralympics "can be identified as being involved in or benefiting from manipulations to conceal positive testing," the report said. Information on 695 summer and winter Olympic athletes had been sent to sports federations. He gave no names but said "well known and elite level athletes" had tests declared to WADA "falsified". "A cover-up that evolved over the years from uncontrolled chaos to an instutionalised and disciplined medal-winning strategy and conspiracy," McLaren said as he introduced his report. McLaren's report said the doping started in about 2011 but the sports ministry under Vitaly Mutko, now a deputy prime minister, took control from 2012 fearing that the cheating would be detected. "An institutional conspiracy existed across summer and winter sports athletes who participated with Russian officials within the ministry of sport and its infrastructure," said McLaren. "These activities were supported by senior Russian officials, including the minister and deputy minister of sport." Mutko, who has denied any involvement, was not personally named. He was barred from going to the Rio Olympics by the International Olympic Committee in August but has since been promoted by President Vladimir Putin. Asked his reaction to Mutko's promotion, McLaren said "No I am not surprised". "For years, international sports competitions have unknowingly been hijacked by the Russians," he told a press conference. "Coaches and athletes have been competing on an uneven field. Sports fans and spectators have been deceived." McLaren said Russian officials could be trusted "but they need to reform themselves". The system was "refined" in the buildup to the 2012 London Olympics and then further for the 2013 Universiade, the world athletics championships in Moscow in 2013 and particularly for the 2014 Sochi Games. Russia won 24 golds, 26 silvers and 32 bronze medals in London with no failed tests at the time. He said there was evidence that the "washout" of samples before London was taking part on a weekly basis in at least athletics and weightlifting. "The Russian team corrupted the London Games on an unprecedented scale." McLaren's first report, released in July, led to more than 110 Russian athletes being banned from the Rio Olympics but also caused a major rift between the IOC and WADA. He said this infighting has got to end to be able to tackle global doping. The report is a huge new blow to Russia, which is already battling to get back into the International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF) because of an earlier inquiry. Russia has said the earlier McLaren report lacked detail and needed more investigation. New Sports Minister Pavel Kolobkov, a former Olympic champion fencer, said Thursday that the country had "declared war" against doping. There are many doubters over Russian efforts however. The IAAF and WADA are keeping to their suspension of Russia, meaning the country may not be able to compete at the world athletics championships in August. WADA president Craig Reedie said last month that Russia was a long way off returning to the global body. Anti-doping officials have complained about a lack of access to closed cities where athletes are training and also to a Moscow laboratory where samples sought by international sporting federations are kept. Athletes from Russia and other East European states have dominated the list of cheats caught in new tests on 1,243 samples taken at the 2008 Beijing and 2012 London Olympics. Tennis star Maria Sharapova has been among a host of Russians ordered banned because of doping failures over the past 18 months. IOC medical director Richard Budgett said Wednesday that there is more bad news to come from the London tests which are not yet finished. "There will be many more to come in the coming weeks and months," Budgett warned without saying which countries were involved. (AFP)

More than 1,000 Russian athletes in 'institutionalised' doping: Investigator

The International Olympic Committee&#39;s decision to reject calls to ban all Russian competitors from the Rio Olympics could lead to &quot;lesser protection for clean athletes,&quot; the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) said on Sunday. 
 
The global anti-doping agency said it stood by its earlier recommendation that the International Olympic Committee (IOC) decline all entries for the Rio Games submitted by the Russian Olympic Committee. 
 
The IOC on Sunday resisted calls for a blanket ban on Russians competing in next month&#39;s Rio games due to the country&#39;s doping record, leaving decisions on individual athletes&#39; participation with their sports federations. 
 
&quot;WADA is disappointed that the IOC did not heed WADA&rsquo;s Executive Committee recommendations that were based on the outcomes of the McLaren Investigation and would have ensured a straight-forward, strong and harmonised approach,&rdquo; WADA President Craig Reedie said in a statement. 
 
&ldquo;The McLaren Report exposed, beyond a reasonable doubt, a state-run doping program in Russia that seriously undermines the principles of clean sport embodied within the World Anti-Doping Code,&quot; Reedie added. 
 
&#39;Why did IOC not allow Stepanova to run as independent athlete?&#39; 
 
WADA also joined other anti-doping leaders in expressing concern over the effect of the IOC decision. 
 
&quot;The approach taken and the criteria set forward will inevitably lead to a lack of harmonisation, potential challenges and lesser protection for clean athletes,&rdquo; WADA Director General Olivier Niggli said. 
 
He also questioned why the IOC had not allowed Russian whistleblower Yulia Stepanova to run as an independent athlete in Rio. 
 
&quot;Ms. Stepanova was instrumental in courageously exposing the single biggest doping scandal of all time,&rdquo; Niggli said. &ldquo;WADA is very concerned by the message that this sends whistleblowers for the future.&quot; 
 
Evidence from the McLaren report had also been sent to the International Paralympic Committee (IPC), WADA said. 
 
The IPC will make its own decision on whether to permit Russian athletes in the Paralympics. It has already started suspension proceedings against Russia following the McLaren report. 
 
Responding to IOC calls that the agency review the anti-doping system, WADA said it was fully committed to further strengthening system. 
 
It also confirmed professor Richard McLaren would continue his investigative work into doping and &quot;identify athletes that might have benefited from manipulation of the doping control process to conceal positive doping tests&quot;. 
 
(Reuters)

The IOC resisted calls for a blanket ban on Sunday on Russians competing in next month's Rio games due to the country's doping record

The International Olympic Committee's decision to reject calls to ban all Russian competitors from the Rio Olympics could lead to "lesser protection for clean athletes," the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) said on Sunday. The global anti-doping agency said it stood by its earlier recommendation that the International Olympic Committee (IOC) decline all entries for the Rio Games submitted by the Russian Olympic Committee. The IOC on Sunday resisted calls for a blanket ban on Russians competing in next month's Rio games due to the country's doping record, leaving decisions on individual athletes' participation with their sports federations. "WADA is disappointed that the IOC did not heed WADA’s Executive Committee recommendations that were based on the outcomes of the McLaren Investigation and would have ensured a straight-forward, strong and harmonised approach,” WADA President Craig Reedie said in a statement. “The McLaren Report exposed, beyond a reasonable doubt, a state-run doping program in Russia that seriously undermines the principles of clean sport embodied within the World Anti-Doping Code," Reedie added. 'Why did IOC not allow Stepanova to run as independent athlete?' WADA also joined other anti-doping leaders in expressing concern over the effect of the IOC decision. "The approach taken and the criteria set forward will inevitably lead to a lack of harmonisation, potential challenges and lesser protection for clean athletes,” WADA Director General Olivier Niggli said. He also questioned why the IOC had not allowed Russian whistleblower Yulia Stepanova to run as an independent athlete in Rio. "Ms. Stepanova was instrumental in courageously exposing the single biggest doping scandal of all time,” Niggli said. “WADA is very concerned by the message that this sends whistleblowers for the future." Evidence from the McLaren report had also been sent to the International Paralympic Committee (IPC), WADA said. The IPC will make its own decision on whether to permit Russian athletes in the Paralympics. It has already started suspension proceedings against Russia following the McLaren report. Responding to IOC calls that the agency review the anti-doping system, WADA said it was fully committed to further strengthening system. It also confirmed professor Richard McLaren would continue his investigative work into doping and "identify athletes that might have benefited from manipulation of the doping control process to conceal positive doping tests". (Reuters)

Rio Olympics 2016: WADA 'disappointed' by IOC decision on Russia

The International Paralympic Committee (IPC) on Sunday banned all Russians from its own Games next month because of the widespread doping culture that it says has polluted sport in the country.

The IPC announced the decision to suspend the Russian Paralympic Committee in Rio, with its president Philip Craven saying that Russia&#39;s Paralympians were part of a broken system that stems from the Russian government.&nbsp;Russia immediately announced it would be appealing against the ban to the Court of Arbitration for Sport.

The IPC decision follows the publication of the McLaren Report last month that implicated Russian Para-athletes in the widespread doping and cover-ups that led to the selective banning of many competitors from the Olympics.

While the International Olympic Committee (IOC) decided against a blanket ban, the IPC had no such concerns about its own Games that run from Sept. 7-18.&nbsp;Craven said on Sunday he had &quot;deep sympathy&quot; for the competitors who will miss the Paralympics but that the decision was taken in the best interests of the Paralympic movement.

Last month the IPC said: &quot;In view of the culture endemic within Russian sport at the very highest levels, NPC Russia appears unable or unwilling to ensure compliance with and the enforcement of the IPC&#39;s Anti-Doping Code within its own national jurisdiction.&quot;

Parasport is not widely followed or celebrated in Russia, a country where rights campaigners say many disabled people are marginalised by regressive social attitudes, poor infrastructure and inadequate state support.

But Russian para-athletes are some of the most successful in the world, topping the medal table in Sochi and coming second after China at London 2012.&nbsp;Their exclusion from the Rio Games is yet another blow to Russia&#39;s reputation as a global sporting powerhouse after dozens of Russian sportspeople were barred from Olympic competition for doping offences.

It also further tarnishes the legacy of the 2014 Sochi Olympics, an event held up by President Vladimir Putin to promote his image of Russia as a resurgent world power. Addressing Russia&#39;s Olympic team before they travelled to Rio last week, Putin said Russian sport had fallen foul of a politically motivated plot fomented by foreign rivals. 
 
(Reuters)

Russia immediately announced it would be appealing against the ban to the Court of Arbitration for Sport

The International Paralympic Committee (IPC) on Sunday banned all Russians from its own Games next month because of the widespread doping culture that it says has polluted sport in the country. The IPC announced the decision to suspend the Russian Paralympic Committee in Rio, with its president Philip Craven saying that Russia's Paralympians were part of a broken system that stems from the Russian government. Russia immediately announced it would be appealing against the ban to the Court of Arbitration for Sport. The IPC decision follows the publication of the McLaren Report last month that implicated Russian Para-athletes in the widespread doping and cover-ups that led to the selective banning of many competitors from the Olympics. While the International Olympic Committee (IOC) decided against a blanket ban, the IPC had no such concerns about its own Games that run from Sept. 7-18. Craven said on Sunday he had "deep sympathy" for the competitors who will miss the Paralympics but that the decision was taken in the best interests of the Paralympic movement. Last month the IPC said: "In view of the culture endemic within Russian sport at the very highest levels, NPC Russia appears unable or unwilling to ensure compliance with and the enforcement of the IPC's Anti-Doping Code within its own national jurisdiction." Parasport is not widely followed or celebrated in Russia, a country where rights campaigners say many disabled people are marginalised by regressive social attitudes, poor infrastructure and inadequate state support. But Russian para-athletes are some of the most successful in the world, topping the medal table in Sochi and coming second after China at London 2012. Their exclusion from the Rio Games is yet another blow to Russia's reputation as a global sporting powerhouse after dozens of Russian sportspeople were barred from Olympic competition for doping offences. It also further tarnishes the legacy of the 2014 Sochi Olympics, an event held up by President Vladimir Putin to promote his image of Russia as a resurgent world power. Addressing Russia's Olympic team before they travelled to Rio last week, Putin said Russian sport had fallen foul of a politically motivated plot fomented by foreign rivals. (Reuters)

IPC bans all Russian paralympians from its Games due to country's widespread doping culture

Canoeing&#39;s governing body has banned five Russians, including a gold medallist and a five-times world champion, from next month&#39;s Rio Olympics after an explosive independent report revealed state-run doping across Russian sport. 
 
&quot;We are clear that if you step out of line you won`t make the start line,&quot; International Canoe Federation secretary general Simon Toulson said, as canoeing became the latest sport to bar Russians from the Games in the fall-out over the roiling doping controversy. 
 
Their exclusion takes the number of Russians banned from taking part in Rio to 18 since Sunday when the International Olympic Committee decided not to issue a blanket ban on all Russian competitors, instead leaving it up to each sport to decide what to do. 
 
&quot;The International Canoe Federation (ICF) has taken swift action to remove five Russian canoe sprint athletes from the Rio Olympic Games following the release of additional information naming those implicated by the McLaren report,&quot; the ICF said. 
 
&quot;In each case the ICF will impose an immediate suspension pending further investigation making the offending athletes ineligible to compete at the Rio 2016 Olympic Games.&quot; 
 
The five were named as Elena Aniushina, Natalia Podolskaya, Alexander Dyachenko, Andrey Kraitor and Alexey Korovashkov. 
 
Korovashkov, a five-times world champion, won a bronze medal in London four years ago and Dyachenko won gold in a doubles kayak sprint. 
 
The Olympics begin on August 5. 
 
(AFP)

Their exclusion takes the number of Russians banned from taking part in Rio to 18 since Sunday after IOC decided not to issue blanket ban

Canoeing's governing body has banned five Russians, including a gold medallist and a five-times world champion, from next month's Rio Olympics after an explosive independent report revealed state-run doping across Russian sport. "We are clear that if you step out of line you won`t make the start line," International Canoe Federation secretary general Simon Toulson said, as canoeing became the latest sport to bar Russians from the Games in the fall-out over the roiling doping controversy. Their exclusion takes the number of Russians banned from taking part in Rio to 18 since Sunday when the International Olympic Committee decided not to issue a blanket ban on all Russian competitors, instead leaving it up to each sport to decide what to do. "The International Canoe Federation (ICF) has taken swift action to remove five Russian canoe sprint athletes from the Rio Olympic Games following the release of additional information naming those implicated by the McLaren report," the ICF said. "In each case the ICF will impose an immediate suspension pending further investigation making the offending athletes ineligible to compete at the Rio 2016 Olympic Games." The five were named as Elena Aniushina, Natalia Podolskaya, Alexander Dyachenko, Andrey Kraitor and Alexey Korovashkov. Korovashkov, a five-times world champion, won a bronze medal in London four years ago and Dyachenko won gold in a doubles kayak sprint. The Olympics begin on August 5. (AFP)

Five Russian canoers, including five-times world champion Korovashkov, banned from Rio

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More than 1,000 Russian athletes in 'institutionalised' doping: Investigator

Rio Olympics 2016: WADA 'disappointed' by IOC decision on Russia

IPC bans all Russian paralympians from its Games due to country's widespread doping culture

Five Russian canoers, including five-times world champion Korovashkov, banned from Rio