Interfax: Moscow expects explanations from WADA on meldonium ban – Lavrov

MOSCOW. March 10 (Interfax) – Russia expects explanations from the World Anti-Doping Agency, or WADA, following the inclusion of meldonium drugs in the list of banned medicines, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov has said.

“I don’t want to gibe, I only want to say in all seriousness: those professional opinions about the justifiability of this step of the WADA that we hear today have received no reaction whatsoever from the leadership of the same WADA,” he said in an interview with Ren-TV television.

“I believe that professional questions must be responded with professional explanations. Perhaps, the WADA leadership had some strong reasons, which neither we, nor the scientific community, nor the expert community know about,” he added.

Russia respects the WADA, and would like to cooperate with the organization, Lavrov said. “But to cooperate in a professional and honest way. With no bumper stickers or any attempts to appropriate scientific truth or medical knowledge. We, too, have experts, as well as other countries,” Lavrov went on.

“The WADA is a mechanism designed to make sure that doping isn’t used in sports. And it is to substantiate its approaches in a professional way. The recent move by this organization has raised questions among professionals. The questions should be answered professionally and honestly,” Lavrov said.

[featured image is file photo]