FINA responds to doping allegations against Russian athletes

Swimming's world governing body FINA has issued a statement in response to allegations about doping by Russian athletes in the sport.

The Times claims to have uncovered an "alarming picture of systematic drug use" in Russia, with links to the doping scandal that has engulfed athletics in the country.

In its statement FINA said that it has asked the paper "to share with us any information they may have which might assist us in our primary objective of protecting clean athletes in swimming".

The organisation says that it has taken a "robust" stance on its approach to dealing with possible anti-doping among Russian competitors.

"While FINA is not aware of any concrete evidence of systemic doping in Russian swimming, we have taken a particularly robust approach to our anti-doping procedures in relation to Russia and Russian competitions, in light of WADA's recent investigation," added the statement.

Athletics' world governing body, the IAAF, has suspended Russian athletes for the time being after evidence was uncovered concerning possible doping.