Russia must tackle the issues in the McLaren Report to restore confidence, new RUSADA director Yury Ganus has warned ©Getty Images

Russia lost credibility following the publication of the McLaren Report but it can be restored, the new head of the country's National Anti-Doping Agency has claimed.

Yury Ganus, appointed director general of the Russian Anti-Doping Agency (RUSADA) earlier this month, has admitted that the country cannot ignore the explosive accusations in the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA)-commissioned Report.

They include claims the Government were behind a state-sponsored doping programme and that they covered up positive tests before, during and after the 2012 and 2014 Olympic and Paralympic Games in London and Sochi and at several other major international events.

"The number one priority is to restore trust in RUSADA," Ganus admitted in an interview with Russian news agency R-sport.

"Currently the credit of trust has been exhausted."

McLaren's Report alleged more than 1,000 Russians, including Olympic medallists, benefited from a state-sponsored doping programme between 2011 and 2015.

At least 30 sports covered up samples, in what McLaren called "an institutionalised and disciplined medal-winning conspiracy".

Following the report's publication, WADA recommended a blanket ban on Russian athletes from Rio 2016, but the International Olympic Committee chose to let the individual sports' governing bodies decide.

Russia, however, is currently suspended by the International Paralympic Committee and International Association of Athletics Federations.

RUSADA also remains "non-compliant" with WADA and must fulfill a number of conditions before it can have its status restored. 

"I believe the demands and facts listed in the report are rather serious," Ganus told R-Sport. 

"McLaren is undisputedly a respectable person in the World Anti-Doping Agency. 

"We have to understand and accept this.

RUSADA director general Yury Ganus has promised that they are working hard to be declared compliant by WADA at its next Foundation Board meeting in Seoul in November ©CNN
RUSADA director general Yury Ganus has promised that they are working hard to be declared compliant by WADA at its next Foundation Board meeting in Seoul in November ©CNN

"It is important to understand that the demands that have been made are not situational.

"There is no view that we are in the focus of a selective attack."

The 53-year-old Ganus, who has a background in business, was chosen from a shortlist of 70 candidates.

He replaced Nikita Kamayev, who died suddenly in February 2016 following his resignation from RUSADA.

RUSADA's potential reinstatement is due to be discussed at a WADA Executive Committee meeting in Paris on Sunday (September 24). 

Its reinstatement could be confirmed at the WADA Foundation Board on November 16 in Seoul. 

"We will do everything for this," Ganus added.

"We are preparing for an audit of WADA, which will be carried out at the end of the month. 

"A thorough study is being conducted on each of the issues.

"In parallel, we are studying our functionality, including in relation to the pre-Olympic period. 

"In fact, only a few months ago, planning and sampling were restored, now it has grown two or even more times compared to the period when we first started."