Russia's sports minister calls for doping leaks to be criminalized
Russian sports federations accused of leaking results before 'B' samples are tested
Russia's sports minister plans to make it illegal for officials to report that an athlete has failed a drug test.
Vitaly Mutko tells Russia's state sports broadcaster that leaking the name of an athlete who has failed a drug test causes "noise and uproar" and violates the presumption of innocence.
Athletes provide an "A" and "B" sample when they are tested and if the "A" sample is positive, can request the "B" sample is tested too. While some athletes have been cleared of doping when a "B" sample comes back negative, such instances are rare.
Mutko accused Russian sports federations of routinely leaking drug test results before "B" samples are tested, adding "we're now going to administratively and criminally forbid it." Russia has faced numerous doping scandals in recent years.