- Title: Putin says Russia to have most advanced anti-doping programme
- Date: 1st December 2016
- Summary: MOSCOW, RUSSIA (DECEMBER 1, 2016) (RUSSIAN POOL) VIEW OF HALL WHERE RUSSIAN PRESIDENT VLADIMIR PUTIN IS DELIVERING HIS STATE OF THE NATION ADDRESS WIDE OF PUTIN SPEAKING (SOUNDBITE) (Russian) RUSSIAN PRESIDENT, VLADIMIR PUTIN, SAYING: "There is a silver lining, I am sure that the so-called doping scandal will allow us to create in Russia the most advanced system of waging the battle against this evil. (VARIOUS OF OFFICIALS LISTENING) What makes me believe in this is that the national anti-doping programme will be ready by the beginning of next year." OFFICIALS LISTENING TO SPEECH
- Embargoed: 16th December 2016 11:52
- Keywords: Russia president. Vladimir Putin state of the nation address doping anti-doping
- Location: MOSCOW, RUSSIA
- City: MOSCOW, RUSSIA
- Country: Russia
- Reuters ID: LVA0015B1XTFR
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Story Text: Russian President Vladimir Putin on Thursday (December 1) said a doping scandal that led to the country's suspension from international athletics in November 2015 was a blessing in disguise.
Delivering his annual state of the nation address, Putin predicted Russia would have the most advanced anti-doping programme by the start of 2017.
"There is a silver lining, I am sure that the so-called doping scandal will allow us to create in Russia the most advanced system of waging the battle against this evil," he said.
"The national anti-doping programme will be ready by the beginning of next year," added Putin, speaking to an audience of government officials gathered at the Kremlin.
Russia was banned from international athletics after an investigation uncovered damning evidence of widespread doping and corruption.
Its track and field and weightlifting teams were excluded from the Olympics in Rio de Janeiro in August, while the entire Russian team was banned from the subsequent Paralympics in September. - Copyright Holder: POOL (CAN SELL)
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