Russia, WADA to meet over doping crisis

Moscow - Officials from Russia's sports ministry and the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) will meet later in the week over the doping crisis which has led to the suspension of the Russian athletics federation and the nation's anti-doping agency Rusada.

The Itar-Tass news agency on Monday quoted Sports Minister Vitaly Mutko as saying "On November 25-26, we will meet in Frankfurt."

The meetings Wednesday and Thursday in Germany come after the suspensions imposed on the athletics team by the sport's ruling athletics IAAF and on Rusada by WADA.

Mutko and sports officials have pledged to co-operate with WADA and other bodies to avoid further sanctions and spare the Russian athletes from missing the 2016 Olympics in Rio.

The International Olympic Committee, IAAF and WADA have urged Russia to undergo a clean-up and make thorough reforms, in order to protect clean athletes.

An independent WADA commission had recommended the suspensions because of widespread doping practices and cover-ups of positive tests in Russia, allegations first made in a German television documentary in December 2014.