Russian sports minister: Doping cover-up stories silly revenge (Reuters)

Russian Sports Minister Vitaly Mutko said allegations he had helped cover up a top footballer’s positive doping test were silly and that he and Russia were being smeared as payback for winning the right to host the 2018 World Cup. Mutko, who is battling to end a doping scandal that has placed a question mark over Russian athletes’ right to compete at the 2016 Rio Olympics, was responding to allegations against him made by German public broadcaster ARD/WDR. The German broadcaster, whose reports led to the suspension of Russia’s track-and-field athletes, said an alleged internal sports ministry e-mail exchange discussing a footballer’s failed test said the matter should be forwarded to ‘VL’.