MOSCOW - Russian Athletics Federation chief Valentin Balakhnichev has confirmed he will resign from the post later this month following a string of doping scandals, local media reported Monday.
Russian Athletics Federation chief Valentin Balakhnichev is reportedly stepping down after a string of doping scandals
"Everything will be done according to the rules," the R-Sport news agency quoted Balakhnichev as saying.
"I will officially announce my resignation at the (athletics) federation executive board meeting on February 17. My decision should be approved as I'm set to resign immediately.
"I'm not going to stay at the post until the new (athletics federation) president's elections."
Balakhnichev added that the 2004 Olympic 800m champion Yury Borzakovsky, who called an end to his career on Sunday, will likely be appointed as the country's national athletics squad head coach.
He will take over from Valentin Maslakov, who resigned last month following a rash of doping scandals involving top Russian athletes.
Last month Olympic steeplechase champion Yulia Zaripova and three Olympic champions in race walking -- Sergei Kirdyapkin, Olga Kaniskina and Valery Borchin -- were all banned by the country's anti-doping agency (RUSADA) for having abnormal indexes of haematological profiles in their biological passports.
Russian heptathlete Tatiana Chernova, London Olympics bronze medalist, and the 2011 world champion in the 50km walk, Sergei Bakulin, were also banned along with Vladimir Kanaikin, who was banned for life for a repeated doping offence after serving a two-year ban in 2008-10.
A 60-minute documentary "Secret Doping Dossier: How Russia produces its Winners" aired by Germany's state broadcaster ARD in December, pointed the finger at Balakhnichev among others.
The documentary featured hard-hitting accusations by 800m runner Yulia Stepanova, who has also been banned for a doping violation, and her husband Vitaly Stepanov, who had worked for RUSADA between 2008 and 2011.
RUSADA reacted immediately announcing their decision to open an investigation into the accusations just two days after the documentary was broadcast.
World Anti-Doping Agency WADA has also appointed an independent commission led by Richard Pound, a former head of the agency, to investigate the case.
Balakhnichev, who is also the world athletics ruling body IAAF treasurer, has temporarily stepped down while the allegations are investigated.
The International Olympic Committee (IOC) added they had been in contact with the IAAF and were ready to act if necessary.