Russian sports minister denies doping cover-ups, says athletes must take responsibility
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Russia's sports minister says accusations that the government is covering up doping of athletes are unfounded.
Russia's track and field federation was suspended in November after a World Anti-Doping Agency panel accused the country of operating a widespread, state-sponsored doping program and covering up positive tests.
Sports Minister Vitaly Mutko says "to blame such a country as Russia that we, on an absolute government level, are covering something up is impossible."
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He says individual athletes should take responsibility for staying clean.
Mutko says the government "cannot sleep together with each of the athletes."
He adds: "How can I control them? What can I do to them? It's silly, don't you understand?"