Russia accused of doping coverup in its soccer teams

MOSCOW — Players from Russia’s under-21 national soccer team had suspicious drug-test samples covered up, emails released by a World Anti-Doping Agency investigation show.

The emails, released this month as part of WADA investigator Richard McLaren’s report on Russian doping, state that there were five suspicious samples in the Russian men’s under17 and under-21 national teams in 2013 and 2014.

Another case in the Russian league was allegedly covered up by then-Sports Minister Vitaly Mutko, who is also in charge of the country’s World Cup preparations. The FIFA ethics committee said Monday it will “examine the report thoroughly” in response to the allegations about soccer and the role of Mutko.

The allegations follow a tough year for Russian soccer, which is trying to prepare to host the 2018 World Cup but has faced criticism over hooliganism involving fans at the European Championship.

The doping cases in the Russian national teams were all recorded as clean by Moscow lab director Grigory Rodchenkov after instructions from Sports Ministry employee Alexei Velikodny to “save” the players, McLaren’s investigation found.

The records show that three members of the Russian under-21 team gave suspicious samples shortly before travelling to the 2013 European championship, with two showing elevated testosterone levels — a key indicator of doping.