Russian Sports Minister Vitaly Mutko says claims he intervened to conceal a Krasnodar player's positive drug test are "laughable" and suggested the doping furore was a response to the nation winning the right to host the 2018 World Cup.
The allegations were made in a documentary aired on Wednesday night by German broadcaster ARD at a time when Russia has been facing serious questions over doping across several sports.
Mutko referenced the calls for the 2018 World Cup to be reassigned amid investigations into the voting process and said this was just the latest attempt to undermine the country as a result of its success in winning the hosting rights.