MOSCOW -- Russia has given its former top military policeman the task of reforming its tarnished anti-doping system.
The Russian Sports Ministry said new deputy minister Maj. Gen. Igor Sidorkevich will oversee changes aimed at restoring confidence in Russian athletes after years of doping scandals.
"We are strengthening our team and will overcome the challenges facing Russian sport," Sports Minister Pavel Kolobkov said.
Sidorkevich ran Russia's military police from 2013 to 2016 and is a former world champion in the Russian martial art of sambo.
Russia's team was barred from the Winter Olympics in February as punishment for the country manipulating doping tests while hosting the 2014 Sochi Games, though 168 athletes were allowed to compete as Olympic Athletes from Russia.