Originally posted by the Voice of America. Voice of America content is produced by the Voice of America, a United States federal government-sponsored entity, and is in the public domain. Russia Pledges Cooperation After Doping Report by VOA News Russia's Sports Ministry said Tuesday it was aware of problems in Russian athletics and pledged to work with the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) following a scathing report containing allegations of widespread doping and efforts to cover it up. A ministry statement declared its commitment to fight doping in sports and insisted that its policies strictly adhered to those of the WADA and International Olympic Committee. Russia said it is ready to cooperate with WADA to eliminate violations by its own anti-doping agency and its accredited laboratory. The report, which was released Monday, recommended the IOC and the IAAF, track and field's governing body, suspend Russia from competition. Australia's Athletics chief Phil Jones joined the call for a Russian Olympic ban, saying Tuesday there is not enough time before next year's summer games in Brazil to ensure Russian athletes are clean. IAAF chief Sebastian Coe has given Russia until the end of the week to respond to the allegations, which he called "alarming." The report implicated athletes, coaches, trainers, doctors and various Russian institutions, including the country's anti-doping agency and an accredited lab in Moscow that handled testing for the 2014 Olympics in Sochi. The report was issued following a 10-month investigation by an independent commission of the World Anti-Doping Agency, also known as WADA. The commission recommended that the agency declare Russia "non-compliant" with the global anti-doping code. At a news conference Monday, former WADA president Dick Pound discussed the findings, which he called "state-sponsored" doping, and likened the cheating to the "old Soviet Union system." "The hope is Russia will seize the opportunity moving forward and take the lead in attacking a problem that has the potential to destroy sport," Pound said. __________________________________________________________________ [1]http://www.voanews.com/content/russia-pledges-cooperation-after-dopi ng-report/3051272.html References 1. http://www.voanews.com/content/russia-pledges-cooperation-after-doping-report/3051272.html