Russia says outside doping experts to start work this month

MOSCOW (AP) Russia says two outside experts will start work in Moscow this month to oversee anti-doping reforms.

The Sports Ministry says the two unidentified ''independent international experts'' were nominated by the World Anti-Doping Agency, which suspended Russia's national anti-doping agency and laboratory in November.

That followed a report by a WADA commission alleging that the agency and laboratory had helped to conceal doping by top Russian athletes. Russia's track and field athletes remain suspended by the IAAF from international competition.

The ministry says the experts will get ''full and free access to all anti-doping operations.''

WADA had previously asked for three international experts to be appointed to help Russia implement reforms.

A supervisory board has also been set up to govern the Russian anti-doping agency, known as RUSADA, which had been accused of being too close to the Sports Ministry.