By Nick ButlerTwo lawsuits will be reportedly submitted next week by the All-Russian Athletics Federation (ARAF) against German television channel ARD after a documentary alleging systematic doping within the sport, the body's head has revealed.

held consultations with German lawyers specialising on such cases," the official told news agency ITAR TASS

By Nick ButlerA new Government ministerial position is to be introduced specifically to combat doping in Russia, as crisis levels deepened even further today following accusations a race walker serving a life ban is being employed as a national coach.

will concentrate exclusively on the fight against doping, Mutko said, as reported by news agency ITAR-TASS

By Mike RowbottomRussia's race walking programme is now in complete disarray following a ban imposed by the national anti-doping agency on five athletes, of whom three are past or present Olympic champions.

winter's Mordovia Cup Race Walking, which took place in December 2014," he told Russian news agency ITAR-TASS

By Liam MorganInvestigations are being carried out by the International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF) following claims disgraced Olympic race walking champion Elena Lashmanova competed in an event in Russia despite the fact she is currently serving a two-year doping ban.

winter's Mordovia Cup Race Walking, which took place in December 2014," he told Russian news agency ITAR-TASS

By Paul OsborneThe naturalisation of foreign athletes should not become the norm in Russian sports, Alexander Zhukov, President of the Russian Olympic Committee, has warned. 

strategy," Zhukov, a member of the International Olympic Committee, told the official Russian news agency Tass

By Duncan MackayFormer Sochi 2014 President and chief executive Dmitry Chernyshenko has been appointed as the new head of Gazprom-Media, Russia's largest media company, it has been announced. 

Mikhail Lesin, who stood down last week for family reasons, according to official Russian news agency Tass

By Nick ButlerRussia will continue to carry out and fulfil its sporting aims despite the financial slump that has badly affected the country, Russian Olympic Committee (ROC) President Alexander Zhukov has promised, although he has admitted there will be "impacts".

Ruble's exchange rate definitely has its impact," he told the ITAR-TASS news agency."

By Mike RowbottomValentin Balakhnichev, President of the Russian Athletics Federation (VLFA), has stepped down from his role within the International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF) pending investigations into an alleged institutionalised doping system in his country.

Balakhnichev, the IAAF treasurer, told the Tass news agency that he planned to return at "the end of

By Nick Butler at the Fairmont Hotel in Monte Carlo International Olympic Committee (IOC) member Shamil Tarpischev is considering filing a lawsuit in the United States to clear his name following his ill-advised comments about Venus and Serena Williams in October.

US court, where I will be able to find out on what basis the sanctions were applied," he told ITAR-TASS

By Nick ButlerRussian President Vladimir Putin has congratulated Dmitry Chernyshenko, head of the Organising Committee for the Sochi 2014 Winter Olympics and Paralympics, after his appointment as President of the Kontinental Hockey League (KHL).

not only in our country but also internationally," the President said, according to news agency Itar Tass

By Daniel EtchellsChristian Unger, head of FIFA's Inspection Committee, claimed they are satisfied with the Fisht Olympic Stadium in Sochi after completing the third leg of the week-long visit to Russia to view the venues for the 2018 FIFA World Cup.

Petersburg on Thursday (October 16) and the Kazan Arena on Friday (October 17), the Russian news agency TASS

By Nick ButlerFans visiting Russia to watch the 2018 FIFA World Cup will not require visas to enter the country, Vladimir Putin has announced in a Ceremony to mark the handing over of hosting rights from Brazil to the next host nation.

is unprecedented throughout the 84-year-long history of the competition, Putin claimed to the ITAR-Tass

By Paul Osborne at the Kassado Plaza Hotel in Moscow The World Taekwondo Federation (WTF) is quietly confident the sport will be added to the Paralympic programme at Tokyo 2020, it was claimed here today. 

Engelbrecht was joined at the conference, held at the headquarters of ITAR-TASS, by WTF secretary general

By Nick ButlerA commemorative medal celebrating the success of the Sochi 2014 Olympic and Paralympic Games has been ordered by Russian President Vladimir Putin.

According to news agency ITAR TASS, the medal was introduced via a degree from the Russian Government

By Nick ButlerOlympic bronze medal-winning swimmer Yulia Efimova of Russia has been handed a backdated 16-month ban by the International Swimming Federation (FINA) after a positive drugs test last year.

Appealing] requires energy, time, and most importantly, money," she said, according to news agency ITAR-TASS