Russians make last-second plea to have ban lifted

As international track officials met in Vienna for a crucial vote on Friday, Russia’s top sports official made one last plea to have the ban on his track team lifted in time for the 2016 Summer Olympics.

In a letter to the IAAF – track and field’s governing body – Sports Minister Vitaly Mutko reiterated that his nation has taken numerous steps to respond to a doping scandal involving athletes, coaches and officials.

“I would like to once again assure you that Russia fully supports fighting doping,” Mutko wrote.

The country’s track federation was indefinitely suspended last year after a World Anti-Doping Agency report presented evidence of widespread cheating.

There have been subsequent reports, both official and in the media, containing additional allegations.

In recent months, the Russians have overhauled the leadership of their track federation, offered to establish additional testing and allowed independent experts to observe their national anti-doping agency.

They have also embarked on a public education campaign in the schools.

“Russia has done everything that [the] IAAF independent commission has rightly asked of us in order to be reinstated to athletic competition,” Mutko wrote. “I hope that after witnessing us institute the changes you demanded, I have given you the reassurance that we should be readmitted.”

The IAAF Council was scheduled to vote on the ban Friday and issue an immediate announcement.

david.wharton@latimes.com

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