Russian Olympic team adheres to anti-doping regime
MOSCOW, July 30 (RIA Novosti) - Almost all the athletes on Russia's Olympic team have passed pre-Games doping tests, the chairman of the Russian Anti-Doping Agency executive council said Wednesday.
"As of today, 95% of the Olympic national team sportsmen heading to Beijing have passed doping control," Vyacheslav Sinyov said during a Moscow-Beijing video link. "70% of them took tests three or more times."
Athletes who prepare for the Olympic Games in line with private training programs have not taken tests yet. "But they will also submit specimens in the days to come," Sinyov said. "No sportsman will go to Beijing unchecked."
President Dmitry Medvedev saw off members of the Russian team at a Kremlin ceremony Tuesday, telling athletes he was pulling for them to win medals at the Games.
"There are grounds to expect bright victories," Medvedev said. "We will not make predictions, but we will pull for you with all our hearts, keep our fingers crossed and believe in your victory and skills."
He gave special encouragement to the sportsmen and women making their debut at the Olympics, which begin in Beijing on August 8.
The Russian team is made up of 467 athletes, who will compete in 244 events.
The country's Olympic Committee said 12 billion rubles ($513.7 million) had been spent on preparations for the 2008 games.
The Russian team finished third in the medals table at the 2004 Summer Olympics in Athens.
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