Russia: Putin to establish public commission to investigate Russian doping

Russian President Vladimir Putin stated that "the official position of the Russian authorities, of the Government and of the President, is that there can be no place for doping in sport" during a meeting in Moscow, Friday, after the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) upheld the International Association of Athletics Federations’s (IAAF) ban on Russian athletes participating in the Rio 2016 Olympic Games.
Putin emphasised that "it is necessary to closely cooperate with the Disciplinary Commission of the IOC, WADA and other international sports federations for Olympic and non-Olympic sports."
The Russian President ordered the establishment of an independent public commission for "the effective implementation of a national plan to fight against doping," stating that the person to lead the Commission should be Vitaly Smirnov as he has an "impeccable reputation" and had "the confidence and respect of the Olympic Family" having joined the IOC 45 years ago.
An appeal was field to the CAS by the Russian Olympic Committee on behalf of 68 track-and-field athletes who were banned from competing due to suspension of the All-Russian Athletics Federation. This appeal was rejected on Thursday.
The IAAF took action following multiple World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) allegations of state-sponsored doping in Russia. The country could now face a blanket ban by the International Olympic Committee which said its decision would be guided by the outcome of the CAS verdict. Sports Minister Vitaly Mutko confirmed that many officials have already been removed from their posts and pledged an independent investigation.