Russia has a "problem" with doping and is "very sorry" that its cheating athletes were not caught sooner, the country's sports minister said.
Russia, a track and field powerhouse, was suspended by the IAAF in
November following a WADA panel report that found state-sponsored
cheating.
"Serious mistakes have been made by the federation management, along
with athletes and coaches who have broken anti-doping rules and
neglected the principle of fair play," said Vitaly Mutko.
"Let us be clear. We are ashamed of them.We are very sorry that athletes who tried to deceive us, and the world,
were not caught sooner. We are very sorry because Russia is committed
to upholding the highest standards in sport and is opposed to anything
that threatens the Olympic values."
Mutko did not, however, admit any involvement in doping by the Russian
government, a central charge in both November's WADA report and recent
allegations that test samples were switched at the Sochi Olympics.
Russia will discover on June 17 whether its athletics federation has met
the reform criteria to return to competition in time for the Rio de
Janeiro Olympics.
"We do not deny having a problem in Russia, and we are doing everything
possible at state level to eradicate doping, including punishing
athletes and coaches," Mutko wrote.
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