Russian athletes hit out at 'rubbish' allegations

Two of the athletes named in allegations made by Russia's former anti-doping chief have described the accusations as "complete rubbish" and "slander".

Dr Grigory Rodchenkov claimed dozens of athletes were part of a state-run doping programme in a report published by the New York Times this week.

At least 15 Winter Olympic medallists from 2014 are among the accused, but skier Alexander Legkov and bobsledder Alexander Zubkov have refuted the claims.

"It is complete rubbish and we need to stop it," said Legkov of the allegations made by Rodchenkov, who was director of Russia's anti-doping laboratory at the time of the Sochi Games.

"I performed honestly. My Olympic victory was not accidental."

Zubkov, who claimed gold in both the two-man and four-man disciplines in 2014, added: "It is all nonsense and slander directed at Russian sportsmen who took part in the Olympics. It is unacceptable."

The International Olympic Committee (IOC) has asked that Rodchenkov's allegations be investigated immediately by the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA).

WADA is already looking into separate claims made by former anti-doping officer Vitaly Stepanov in relation to the same Games.