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Russian FM: Russia to seek frank dialogue with WADA

26 November 2019 16:13 (UTC +04:00)

Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov, commenting on WADA recommendations regarding Russia, said Tuesday that Moscow would seek a frank dialogue, APA reports citing Sputnik.

"There are those who want to put Russia in the defensive position, position of the accused... in fact, everywhere, whatever area of international life you take: conflicts, economics, energy, gas pipelines, trade-in military products - everywhere Russia violates something or does something not advantageous for one or several Western countries," Lavrov said when asked if recommendations of the WADA Compliance Review Committee were just. "We will defend the need for an honest conversation on any issue, including from the viewpoint of ensuring equal consideration of each country's conduct in the international arena," he said.

Mr. Lavrov's comment comes following the recommendation of the World Anti-Doping Agency's (WADA) Compliance Committee to ban Russia from applying to host international competitions for four years. WADA will review the recommendation at the executive committee meeting on 9 December. If the anti-doping watchdog approves the recommendation, Russia will be banned from the next summer Olympics in Tokyo, the 2022 Winter Games in Beijing, as well as from the 2022 World Cup in Qatar.