Putin asks for measures on anti-doping plan by April 20

Russian President Vladimir Putin tasked the government on Tuesday to prepare by April 20 all measures regarding the implementation of a roadmap for the fight against doping abuse in sports.

The ministers will have to propose a set of measures to implement a plan of fighting against the abuse of performance enhancing drugs in Russian sports in line with a roadmap drafted earlier by the Russian Independent Public Anti-Doping Commission (IPADC), according to a statement.

The Russian Olympic Committee (ROC) Executive Board approved in late July last year the establishment of the public anti-doping commission. Vitaly Smirnov, who is also an International Olympic Committee (IOC)'s honourary member, was appointed to head the new commission, reports Tass news agency.

Smirnov worked for the IOC for 45 years and he also served as the ROC President between 1992 and 2001.

The decision to form the commission came after President Putin announced in mid-July last year that the ROC could set up an independent public commission on the issues of fight against the abuse of performance enhancing drugs.

The presidential proposal came following an array of sanctions against the Russian sports on accusations of doping abuse.

--IANS

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