Skip to main content

A Friday, Nov. 13, 2015 photo from files showing Russian Sports Minister Vitaly Mutko speaking at his meeting with the media in Moscow. According to an account of the meeting posted by the ministry, Mutko said Russia would "follow all recommendations from WADA aimed at the necessary transformations in the activities and structure of RUSADA."Ivan Sekretarev/The Associated Press

Russia says it will reform its national anti-doping agency rather than shut it down.

The agency, known as RUSADA, was suspended by the World Anti-Doping Agency on Nov. 18 after being accused of covering up positive drug tests by leading Russian athletes.

WADA has demanded extensive reforms.

Russian Sports Minister Vitaly Mutko had suggested that RUSADA could be disbanded, causing a "collapse" in drug testing until a new organization could be established.

However, Mutko told Russia's Tass agency on Monday that RUSADA "will definitely remain as an organization" and that Russia and WADA were co-operating on reforms.

The decision follows a meeting last week between Mutko and WADA director general David Howman in Frankfurt

Interact with The Globe