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U.S. Justice Department investigates Russia Olympic sports doping, report says

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SOCHI, RUSSIA - FEBRUARY 23: (L-R) Silver medalist Maxim Vylegzhanin of Russia, gold medalist Alexander Legkov of Russia and bronze medalist Ilia Chernousov of Russia celebrate during the medal ceremony for the Men’s 50 km Mass Start Free during the 2014 Sochi Winter Olympics Closing Ceremony at Fisht Olympic Stadium on February 23, 2014 in Sochi, Russia. (Photo by Pascal Le Segretain/Getty Images)

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The U.S. Department of Justice is investigating the Russian Olympic sports doping scandal, according to The New York Times.

Reports of state-sponsored doping by Russian Olympic champions leading up to the Sochi Winter Games, plus its now-banned track and field federation, could have connections to the U.S., at least in part due to the fact many sports have World Cup or World Championships-level competitions in the U.S.

Three of the four Russian Olympic champions from last week’s New York Times report -- bobsledders Alexander Zubkov and Alexey Voyevoda and skeleton slider Alexander Tretiakov -- competed in the U.S. in December 2013, two months before the Sochi Olympics.

The U.S. Department of Justice previously forayed into sports, most notably investigating FIFA corruption.

MORE: Questions and answers on Olympic doping retests

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