Russian bank threatens to sue WADA over IAAF sponsorship claims

In 2006, VTB became the first Russian company ever to sign with the IAAF.

Moscow: Russia`s state-run bank VTB on Wednesday threatened to sue the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) after it questioned a sponsorship deal with the governing body of world athletics.

A WADA independent commission last year released a bombshell report alleging a system of state-sponsored doping in Russian athletics that saw Moscow`s track and field team suspended from international competition.

In a second report released in January and focused on high-ranking corruption in world athletics the commission demanded a probe into the legitimacy of a $25 million VTB sponsorship deal with the IAAF.

VTB`s press service told AFP that it had sent an official demand to WADA demanding it "retract publicly the information that tarnished the bank`s reputation".

The bank press spokesman added that it will launch legal action in a Swiss court if the information is not officially withdrawn within 21 days.