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Russian sport official warns of possible lawsuit against New York Times

Xinhua, May 14, 2016 Adjust font size:

Russian Sport Ministry on Friday warned of possible lawsuit against the New York Times that claimed various Russian athletes were involved in doping use during the 2014 Winter Olympics in Russia's Sochi.

It is possible that the ministry would file a lawsuit against the New York Times, deputy sports minister Yury Nagornykh said at a press conference.

"We want to declare once again and to all: there is no doping program in the Russian sport, and there never has been," Nagornykh stressed.

Later in the day, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov voiced support.

"We would potentially support any such actions and file lawsuits against the gentleman (former head of Moscow's anti-doping laboratory Grigory Rodchenkov) and against the publications, which are spreading this slander," Peskov was quoted by Tass news agency.

According to Nagornykh, Russia could not have any influence on the doping control process during the Olympic Games.

Foreign experts were provided by the International Olympic Committee (IOC) and the World Anti-Doping Agency, and they participated in all phases, Nagornykh explained.

Meanwhile, samples of the tests had been sealed and sent to Lausanne, Switzerland, where IOC is based, the official added.

The New York Times reported on Thursday quoting statements by Rodchenkov, who claimed that at least 15 Russian medal-winners at Sochi Winter Olympics were part of a state-run doping program designed to enhance their performance.

Skier Alexander Legkov and bobsledder Alexander Zubkov, both winners of gold medals at the 2014 Winter Olympics and accused this time by the U.S. newspaper, denied on Friday existence of a state-run doping campaign and their participation.

"It is a kind of a political game aimed against Russia," Legkov said. Endit