Russia is trying to reform after its damaging doping scandal, world athletics officials said as they visited Moscow to track progress on instituting reform measures.
"The Russians have recognized that there is an issue, a problem, and they are trying to fix it," Norwegian anti-doping expert Rune Andersen told The Associated Press on January 12.
Russia was suspended from international competition by the International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF) in November after a report found widespread, state-sponsored doping.
"There was an open and frank discussion" during meetings with Russian officials this week, Andersen said. "There are no obstructions to what we're trying to do. Everyone wants to find solutions to the problems."
Andersen added that "several" more meetings are planned before a taskforce he heads reports back to the IAAF in March.
For Russia to be readmitted to the federation in time for the 2016 Olympics in Rio de Janeiro, the IAAF has said the country must investigate all doping cases, remove any officials or coaches who were involved in drug use or cover-ups, and establish "a zero-tolerance anti-doping culture."
