Russian sports minister calls for unified anti-doping standards

Paris, Aug 1: Russian Sports Minister Vitaly Mutko said on Monday he informed the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (Unesco) that there was no system in Russia of the alleged state support for doping abuse in sports.

"We have informed Unesco that Russia does not have a state system of doping support and that the government implies enormous efforts in the fight against doping," Mutko told journalists here.

"This problem of doping does exist in Russia, but it also exists in the rest of the world."

"This is why we need to join our efforts in the fight against doping," he said.

"The system of the fight against doping must be globally unified."

Mutko said he extended an invitation to anti-doping officers from Unesco to visit Russia.

"I have invited the Unesco Anti-Doping Committee to Russia," Mutko told journalists. "This visit will be discussed."