Putin dismisses ‘idiot’ doping whistleblower Rodchenkov

MOSCOW: Russian President Vladimir Putin on Tuesday said the whistleblower at the source of doping allegations Grigory Rodchenkov was an “idiot” who should not be trusted, though admit ting there have been “instances” of doping use.

“They’ve got t h i s idiot Rodchenkov,” Put in said, apparently referring to the US, where Rodchenkov has fled. “He clearly had problems with the law... he attempted suicide, as he said... all of this indicates problems.”

“Everything is based on testimony of this man... can he even be trusted?” Putin said at a meeting with his political campaigners in Moscow.

Putin did not speci f ical ly comment on the latest allegations by Rodchenkov, who was quoted as saying Monday by German broadcaster ARD that Putin personal ly ordered the state doping programme and was kept informed by ex- sports minister Vitaly Mutko.

“Of course it came all the way from the top, from the president,” Rodchenkov claimed. “Because only the president can deploy the domestic secret service FSB for such a special task.”

Rodchenkov is the former head of Moscow’s anti- doping laboratory who fled to the United States in 2016 following the sudden death of two senior officials from Russia’s anti- doping agency. He is now wanted in Russia as part of a probe. The Kremlin earlier said his latest allegations were “slander” without proof.

Russia has been banned from taking part at the 2018 Winter Olympics and Paralympics although individual athletes who prove themselves to be clean can compete under strict conditions and under a neutral flag.

Russia was suspended in August 2016 fol lowing revelations of widespread state- sponsored doping uncovered in a report by Richard McLaren on behalf of the World Anti- Doping Agency (Wada). — AFP