Doping allegations against Russian athletes only slander: Kremlin

The Kremlin will consider doping abuse accusations against Russian athletes as a slander until it gets proofs of confirmation, Russian presidential spokesman Dmitry Peskov said on Wednesday.

"The team is systematically getting ready for the Olympic games. True, campaigns of slander do take place, but they don't fan tensions," Peskov said, when asked if another round of allegations about doping abuse increased the risks for Russian athletes, reports Tass.

Peskov pointed out that Russia was categorically against the use of doping in sports.

"At the same time, this does not mean that we are ready to accept some groundless statements or charges before we hear any sensible proof or confirmations of this slander," Peskov said. "We will be regarding this as the absolute calumny."

He recalled, "The Russian president had sent an absolutely clear message to the effect the use of any doping in sports is absolutely unacceptable for us. Sports Minister Vitaly Mutko stated that too. Russia is categorically against this and it unconditionally condemns the use of doping where it has been proven."

At the same time, "we are categorically against the attempts to use the exposed cases of doping abuse to cast a shadow on our athletes who participate in sports competitions in a fair way," Peskov said.

He also pointed out that "the president and the sports minister had repeatedly stated they were participating in anti-doping activities on the basis of very tight interaction with the corresponding international structures".

Peskov emphasised Putin's statement favouring every cooperation with foreign partners in anti-doping agencies to investigate all doping abuse suspicions.

--IANS

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