Russia bullish over doping scandal amid calls for Olympic ban

Russia has rejected as "groundless" accusations of widespread doping and corruption in athletics and promised a rapid response to avoid suspension from the 2016 Olympics.

"Until any proof has been put forward it is hard to accept any accusations as they seem rather groundless," Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov stated Tuesday.

With fears the scandal might go far beyond Russia's borders and involve other sports, the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) took the first concrete measure since Monday's damning report from its independent commission by suspending Moscow's heavily-criticised anti-doping laboratory.

Athletics was rocked by an avalanche of allegations including accusations of Russian "state-sponsored" doping contained in the 335-page findings.

IAAF president Sebastian Coe has given the Russian athletics federation (ARAF) "until the end of the week" to respond or risk possible suspension, with the IAAF Council set to meet in Monaco on Friday.

Despite the Kremlin's dismissive reaction, ARAF assured Coe that it would contact the IAAF "in the very near future" outlining its anti-doping programme and "its reaction to the deductions and conclusions" in WADA's report.

Calls for Russia, fourth in the 2012 London Olympics medal table, to be banned from next year's Olympic Games are growing.

UK Athletics chief Ed Warner told BBC Radio 4: "Lord Coe... says that his (IAAF) council is meeting to consider sanctioning Russia and possibly to suspend them. My strong advice would be: you've absolutely got to do that."

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