Russia's Minister of Sport Pavel Kolobkov denies that data has been manipulated in the Moscow Doping Control Laboratory. "Our experts say that nothing has been deleted, the manipulations that Rusada boss Yuri Ganus speaks of did not exist, that's our position," Kolobkov said.
The 50-year-old is responsible for "technical problems" for the current investigations. At a meeting of Russian IT experts and the World Anti-Doping Agency Wada will be informed soon.
A Wada case is currently underway against the Russian anti-doping agency Rusada, which could result in the suspension and even exclusion of Russia from the 2020 Tokyo Olympics. The Wada doubts the authenticity of the data from the Moscow laboratory, which should provide information on institutionalized doping in Russia between 2012 and 2015.
"Plans for the Olympics are ready"
Perhaps Russia has manipulated data at the beginning of this year. This said Rusada CEO Ganus in an interview with the SPIEGEL four weeks ago. "Someone has tried to cover up information on a large scale," Ganus said. Another person with knowledge of the operation confirmed to the SPIEGEL that the Wada is currently pursuing this suspicion.
- Read the full interview here: "We're talking about a plot against us and the sport as a whole"
Despite the possible consequences, Kolobkov believes in a Russian Olympic team in Tokyo with about 400 athletes. "We can expect good results because our athletes have been well prepared over the past four years and our plans for the Olympics are ready," he said.
The Wada had announced last week that the trial of the Rusada is expected to be completed by the end of the year. Ganus had recently stated that he expected an Olympic exclusion of Russian athletes even to the Winter Games in 2022 in Beijing.
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