Russia faces action, sport in 'crisis':
IAAF
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[February 17, 2015]
LONDON (Reuters) - Russian athletes
involved in a major doping scandal will face disciplinary proceedings in
the next three months as the sport bids to deal with a "crisis", the
International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF) said on
Monday.
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The IAAF and the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) have begun a
probe into Russian race-walking after a German television
documentary alleged widespread doping.
"It's a difficult crisis but we will put it behind us by cleaning
all this," IAAF President Lamine Diack told the BBC, adding that he
was "shocked" and "disturbed" when he heard about the allegations.
Russia's anti-doping agency announced last month that three Olympic
walking champions, Olga Kaniskina, Valery Borchin, Sergei
Kirdyapkin, as well as the 2011 world champion Sergei Bakulin and
the 2011 world silver medalist Vladimir Kanaykin had been suspended
for doping infringements.
"We hope to at least initiate proceedings in the next two or three
months on the first individuals," IAAF anti-doping manager Thomas
Capdevielle said in a conference call with reporters on Monday.
![](http://archives.lincolndailynews.com/2015/Feb/17/images/ads/current/ccaonline_sda050208.png) The IAAF said disciplinary proceedings have been opened against
coach Viktor Chegin who trained at the Russian race-walking center
in Saransk.
"The case is currently being investigated and pursued as an
anti-doping violation," Capdevielle said.
"He requires some investigation. "But we are confident it will end
up in a satisfying conclusion for us, with a sanction and this coach
out of the sport."
The German TV program also alleged that IAAF officials were involved
in covering up doping in Russia, something Diack denied.
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"I'm convinced I know my department," he said. "I know how they
work very, very hard about the fight against doping, and I didn't
see any reason to make a cover-up of a doping case," the 81-year-old
Senegalese said.
"OK, in Russia there are some cheaters and if it's demonstrated that
cheating is organized we have to take action, not only on the
athletes, but on the leaders.
"It's our job to clean all this and take all the measures we have to
take."
Diack will stand down in August after 16 years as IAAF President,
the most influential position in the sport.
(Reporting by Michael Hann and Ed Osmond, editing by Justin Palmer)
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