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German TV to air 'proof' of Russia's hand in doping

Berlin - German public broadcaster ARD, which first brought the Russian doping storm to light, said Tuesday it would air new footage implicating Russia's sports minister in what it described as "state-controlled doping".

The explosive allegations in ARD's December 2014 documentary "Secret Doping Dossier: How Russia produces its Winners" have touched off investigations that led to a raft of Russian athletes being stripped of their Olympic medals.

World athletics' governing body, the International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF), also imposed a ban on Russian athletes from competing in international track and field events over claims of state-sponsored doping.

But ARD said it would air more evidence that accuses the Russian government of being "directly involved in the cover-up of the state-controlled doping".

The new documentary called "The Secret World of Doping: Showdown for Russia" is due to be broadcast late Wednesday, just nine days before the IAAF is set to rule on whether to whether to reinstate the Russian athletics federation ahead of the August 5-21 Rio Olympics.

ARD said its show would present documents showing that "(Sports Minister Vitaly) Mutko prevented the publication of the doping offence of a footballer from Russia's top league".

Footage would also show that coaches found guilty of doping offences were still training top athletes, the broadcaster said.

It added that it had submitted the material to the IAAF taskforce investigating the doping allegations, which had responded in a letter, saying it was a "very serious matter" and of "grave concern".

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