CAS tribunal upholds lifetime ban on Russian doping doctor

The Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) on Monday upheld a lifetime ban levied against Sergei Portugalov, former chief of the Russian Athletics Federation's Medical Commission, for his role in providing illicit substances to Russian athletes.

Lausanne-based CAS upheld the ban as part of an arbitration involving the International Association of Athletics Federation (IAAF) and the Russian Athletics Federation, citing in a statement "clear evidence" that he violated IAAF doping rules governing possession and trafficking of prohibited substances.

In a 2015 report, the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) wrote that Portugalov supplied performance enhancing drugs to athletes and coaches, administered doping programmes and "even injected athletes himself".

Russia agency needs "significant" work to get suspension lifted - WADA

Russia's anti-doping agency (RUSADA) still has significant work to do to get its suspension lifted, the World Anti-Doping Agency said on Monday.

WADA President Craig Reedie said the RUSADA, suspended following the major doping scandal affecting the country, had taken steps forward in the past year.

Russian track and field athletes were banned from the Rio Olympics while a WADA-commissioned report found state-backed doping affecting more than 1,000 athletes in the country.

Reedie said RUSADA had made steps forward towards re-compliance but more needed to be done.

"There remains significant work to do (for RUSADA). It must demonstrate its processes are autonomous and independent from outside interference," Reedie told an international meeting.