Russia: Vitaly Smirnov expected to head Public Commission on doping claims

Senior International Olympic Committee (IOC) member Vitaly Smirnov, who is expected to head up an independent public commission into Russian doping, spoke to media during a press conference in Moscow, Friday.
Smirnov's statement came after Russian President Vladimir Putin, earlier in the day, said that he wished Smirnov to lead the establishment of the Public Commission to investigate the doping claims made by WADA, the IAAF and the IOC.
Smirnov, a member of the International Olympic Committee since 1971, stated that "the doping problem must finally be resolved," adding, "what President Putin said today about the whole government and him personally supporting the resolute struggle to eliminate any doping greatly inspires us."
Smirnov continued "it is vital, that we should establish a closer relationship between our Olympic Committee and other organisations." He singled out "WADA, and Disciplinary Committee, and the Olympic Committee itself, and those federations, whom we had misunderstandings with."
Earlier on Friday Putin said that the goal of the commission would be a creation of a national plan to battle doping.