Russia links new doping scandal to race for top athletics post (Reuters)
Russia’s sports minister dismissed allegations that more than 400 Russian athletes were suspected of taking banned performance enhancing drugs, linking the media reports to upcoming elections for athletics’ ruling body. Britain’s Sunday Times newspaper and German broadcaster ARD/WDR said they were given access to the results of over 12,000 blood tests provided by more than 5,000 athletes over 11 years. Of those, 415 were Russian athletes, the Sunday Times said.