(ATR) Russian Athletics Federation chief Valentin Balakhnichev resigned Feb. 17 in the midst of doping scandals that have plagued the organization.
"I failed to confront in full the rise of doping problems in Russia," Balakhnichev said in a statement reported by AFP.
"I understand that as the federation president I'm personally responsible for it. That was the reason of my decision."
Balakhnichev is the second high profile resignation from the Russian Athletics Federation. Athletics coach Valentin Maslakov resigned on Jan. 23.
Allegations of rampant doping within Russian athletics athletes came in December from a pair of German TV documentarieson the subject.
IAAF president Lamine Diack told BBC Sport that he was "shocked" after hearing the allegations made by the German documentaries.
"I cannot accept that somebody came and said in Russia it's 99% cheating. It's not true," Diack said.
"I understand, after this kind of crisis, people are saying, 'OK, what are they doing, is it right or not?' but I think we have to be absolutely clear that our athletes are 90% to 95% clean."
Former Word Anti-Doping Agency president and IOC member Dick Pound is guiding an investigationinto the Russian Athletics Federation this year.
Pound told Around the Rings in December that he does not expect the investigation to run beyond the end of 2015.
Written by Aaron Bauer
20 Years at #1: Your best source of news about the Olympics is AroundTheRings.com, for subscribers only.
Últimas Noticias
Boxing’s place in the Olympics remains in peril as IOC still unhappy with the state of AIBA’s reform efforts
The IOC says issues concerning governance, finance, and refereeing and judging must be sorted out to its satisfaction. AIBA says it’s confident that will happen and the federation will be reinstated.
McLaren report to FIBA confirms abuses in the Mali women’s basketball program
The investigation could not “independently verify” allegations against FIBA president Hamane Niang, who has resumed his duties after stepping aside during the probe.
ATR Extra: 1st ISF U15 World School Sport Games – Belgrade 2021
Olympic Channel is live streaming the basketball, basketball 3x3, football, judo and wrestling competitions during the event, which runs September 11-19.
International Judo Federation bans Algerian athlete and coach for 10 years for refusing to fight an Israeli at Tokyo 2020
Judoka Fethi Nourine and his coach Amar Benikhlef admitted they were withdrawing from competition to avoid a potential match with Tohar Butbul of Israel.
IIHF bans Belarus hockey president for five years for code of conduct violations - Federation Focus
Also: no contested election for next ITTF president; BWF calendar shrinks as event in India cancelled due to pandemic; FISU announces early bids for 2027 and 2029 World University Games
