Russia's sports minister Vitaly Mutko. Alexander Zemlianichenko / AP Photo
Russia's sports minister Vitaly Mutko. Alexander Zemlianichenko / AP Photo

Sports minister says Russia ‘ashamed and sorry’ over doping scandal



LONDON // Russian sports minister Vitaly Mutko apologised on Sunday for the doping scandal that threatens the athletic superpower’s participation in the Rio Olympics.

Mutko, writing in The Sunday Times, admitted the Russian Athletics Federation and athletes had made "serious mistakes" breaking anti-doping rules.

He said “they had rejected the principle of fair-play so fundamental to sport for immediate benefits.

“Let us be clear. We are ashamed of them.”

Mutko’s mea culpa comes just three days after he described as “absurd” allegations that Russian athletes were involved in systematic doping at the 2014 Sochi Olympics.

See also:

• Doping: Ethiopia could face IAAF; Kenya given extension; South Korean swimmer banned

• Osman Samiuddin: Maria Sharapova, Lance Armstrong and how to reconsider how we think of doping

A report in the New York Times based on information from the former head of Russia's anti-doping laboratory claimed that dozens of athletes including 15 medallists were involved.

Russian athletics faces a battle to compete at the Olympics in Rio in August.

The sport’s ruling body, the IAAF, provisionally suspended the All-Russian Athletic Federation (Araf) in November over a bombshell report by a World Anti-Doping Agency (Wada) independent commission alleging state-sponsored doping and mass corruption in the sport.

The International Association of Athletics Federations will examine the issue of Russia’s participation in Rio at an extraordinary Council meeting next month.

Mukto told The Sunday Times: "We are very sorry that athletes who tried to deceive us, and the world, were not caught sooner.

“We are very sorry because Russia is committed to upholding the highest standards in sport and is opposed to anything that threatens the Olympic values.”

He said that since the scandal emerged Russia was putting its house in order.

“Since Russia was suspended last November, with Rusada [Russian Anti-Doping Agency], the Moscow laboratory and the Araf all losing their Wada status, we have agreed a road-map with Wada aimed at restructuring these organisations, taking a series of steps to demonstrate how committed we are to ensuring that sport in our country is clean and fair.”

Mutko listed some of the new measures designed to ensure his country’s appearance in Rio.

“Before the Rio Games begin, our aspiring Olympians will undergo a minimum of three anti-doping controls carried out by the IAAF, in addition to any testing that they receive in all qualifying competitions.

“In addition, two international experts are now based in Moscow to supervise all activities of our anti-doping agency.”

He said UK Anti-Doping (Ukad) had been appointed by Wada to take charge of drug-testing in Russia, although Ukad said on Friday it was reviewing its position after the Sochi revelations.

Mutko said “key changes” had been made at the top of the All-Russia Athletics Federations to give the sport “a fresh start”.

“We will do everything humanly possible to ensure our athletes are a part of clean, fair and enthralling Games,” he pleaded ahead of the IAAF’s crunch meeting to determine Russia’s Rio fate on June 17.

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Ireland 16 (Tries: Stockdale Cons: Sexton Pens: Sexton 3)

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(Rotana)

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Mercer, the investment consulting arm of US services company Marsh & McLennan, expects its wealth division to at least double its assets under management (AUM) in the Middle East as wealth in the region continues to grow despite economic headwinds, a company official said.

Mercer Wealth, which globally has $160 billion in AUM, plans to boost its AUM in the region to $2-$3bn in the next 2-3 years from the present $1bn, said Yasir AbuShaban, a Dubai-based principal with Mercer Wealth.

Within the next two to three years, we are looking at reaching $2 to $3 billion as a conservative estimate and we do see an opportunity to do so,” said Mr AbuShaban.

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Mercer Wealth’s clients include sovereign wealth funds, family offices, and insurance companies among others.

From its office in Dubai, Mercer also looks after Africa, India and Turkey, where they also see opportunity for growth.

Wealth creation in Middle East and Africa (MEA) grew 8.5 per cent to $8.1 trillion last year from $7.5tn in 2015, higher than last year’s global average of 6 per cent and the second-highest growth in a region after Asia-Pacific which grew 9.9 per cent, according to consultancy Boston Consulting Group (BCG). In the region, where wealth grew just 1.9 per cent in 2015 compared with 2014, a pickup in oil prices has helped in wealth generation.

BCG is forecasting MEA wealth will rise to $12tn by 2021, growing at an annual average of 8 per cent.

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The Abu Dhabi Investment Authority, one of the largest sovereign wealth funds, said in its 2016 report that has gradually increased its exposure in direct private equity and private credit transactions, mainly in Asian markets and especially in China and India. The authority’s private equity department focused on structured equities owing to “their defensive characteristics.”

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The%20specs%20
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EEngine%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E2.0-litre%204cyl%20turbo%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EPower%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E261hp%20at%205%2C500rpm%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ETorque%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E400Nm%20at%201%2C750-4%2C000rpm%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ETransmission%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E7-speed%20dual-clutch%20auto%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EFuel%20consumption%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E10.5L%2F100km%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EOn%20sale%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3ENow%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EPrice%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EFrom%20Dh129%2C999%20(VX%20Luxury)%3B%20from%20Dh149%2C999%20(VX%20Black%20Gold)%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
The Bio

Name: Lynn Davison

Profession: History teacher at Al Yasmina Academy, Abu Dhabi

Children: She has one son, Casey, 28

Hometown: Pontefract, West Yorkshire in the UK

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10 tips for entry-level job seekers
  • Have an up-to-date, professional LinkedIn profile. If you don’t have a LinkedIn account, set one up today. Avoid poor-quality profile pictures with distracting backgrounds. Include a professional summary and begin to grow your network.
  • Keep track of the job trends in your sector through the news. Apply for job alerts at your dream organisations and the types of jobs you want – LinkedIn uses AI to share similar relevant jobs based on your selections.
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  • Go online and look for details on job specifications for your target position. Make a list of skills required and set yourself some learning goals to tick off all the necessary skills one by one.
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  • Make sure you’ve set your LinkedIn profile to signal that you are “open to opportunities”. Also be sure to use LinkedIn to search for people who are still actively hiring by searching for those that have the headline “I’m hiring” or “We’re hiring” in their profile.
  • Prepare for online interviews using mock interview tools. Even before landing interviews, it can be useful to start practising.
  • Be professional and patient. Always be professional with whoever you are interacting with throughout your search process, this will be remembered. You need to be patient, dedicated and not give up on your search. Candidates need to make sure they are following up appropriately for roles they have applied.

Arda Atalay, head of Mena private sector at LinkedIn Talent Solutions, Rudy Bier, managing partner of Kinetic Business Solutions and Ben Kinerman Daltrey, co-founder of KinFitz

BUNDESLIGA FIXTURES

Friday (all kick-offs UAE time)

Hertha Berlin v Union Berlin (10.30pm)

Saturday

Freiburg v Werder Bremen (5.30pm)

Paderborn v Hoffenheim (5.30pm)

Wolfsburg v Borussia Dortmund (5.30pm)

Borussia Monchengladbach v Bayer Leverkusen (5.30pm)

Bayern Munich v Eintracht Frankfurt (5.30pm)

Sunday

Schalke v Augsburg (3.30pm)

Mainz v RB Leipzig (5.30pm)

Cologne v Fortuna Dusseldorf (8pm)

 

 


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