IAAF looking into claims Russia still violating rules over doping
— -- MOSCOW -- The IAAF said Sunday it will investigate claims that Russia is flouting demands for anti-doping reforms as it seeks readmission to world track and field in time for August's Olympics in Rio de Janeiro.
The IAAF said the task force monitoring Russia during its suspension will examine the allegations from German TV broadcaster ARD and that task force leader Rune Andersen was given advance access to related audio and video materials.
"The task force will look carefully into the matters raised by the latest documentaries, including discussing them with representatives of [the Russian track and field federation]," the IAAF said in a statement.
The Russian track federation said in a statement that its investigations department would "analyze all the incidents presented in the film and investigate each case in detail."
"We are open to serious strategic partnership with the IAAF and WADA [World Anti-Doping Agency] and we will not allow individual people to cast a shadow over Russian athletics," the federation said.
The Russian anti-doping agency did not respond to a request for comment.
An excerpt from an ARD documentary to be broadcast Sunday included footage apparently showing a Russian coach, Vladimir Mokhnev, continuing to train top Russian athletes despite being suspended from doing so by the IAAF.
Mokhnev was accused in a WADA commission's report in November of providing banned substances to athletes who trained with him.
Mokhnev denied he was suspended from coaching Monday in comments to Russian agency R-Sport. He said he was not acting as a coach in the undercover footage broadcast by ARD, which appeared to show him directing training sessions. Instead, he said he was "consulting."
The IAAF confirmed to The Associated Press following Mokhnev's comments that he remained under a provisional suspension. During such a suspension, coaches are typically banned from working with athletes in any capacity.
WADA said it was also taking an interest in Sunday's film.
"WADA is aware of the ARD documentary to be aired later today and will watch the program with interest," spokesman Ben Nichols told The Associated Press in e-mailed comments. "If there are matters to be pursued as a result, we will have no hesitation in doing so."
A previous ARD documentary in December 2014 sparked the WADA commission investigation that found evidence of widespread, state-sponsored doping in Russia. In November, the IAAF banned Russia from international track and field as a result.
Russia's sports minister Vitaly Mutko was critical of ARD ahead of Sunday's broadcast, saying Russia had reformed and that a new documentary seemed unnecessary.
"It's strange that these films continue," he told Russia's state Tass news agency. "That leads to the thought that it's an attempt to exert influence on organizations which must take important decisions."
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
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