December 11, 2014 (Montreal, QC) – The World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) issued a statement yesterday that it will investigate allegations of widespread and systemic doping in Russia as raised in a recent German TV documentary. Today, the sports world is reeling from these allegations.

“The allegations that have been raised in the German television programs require close scrutiny to determine what actions are required to be taken by WADA and others, to confirm the evidence, seek further evidence, and pursue any anti-doping rule violations or breaches of the International Standards that have allegedly taken place. WADA must ensure that all athletes who have cheated, either at national or international level, are dealt with in an appropriate fashion under the World Anti-Doping Code,” stated President of Montreal-based WADA, Sir Craig Reedie.

The documentaries, aired by German broadcaster ARD this week, follow lengthy investigations in Russia and elsewhere. While the focus is on track and field, other sports such as cycling, swimming, weightlifting and winter sports are also mentioned. Allegations include systemic doping encouraged by sports authorities in Russia — with perhaps 99% of Russian athletes doping– and that doping athletes have been “protected” by authorities. There are further allegations that the Russian Anti-Doping Agency (RUSADA) laboratory may have “switched” positive doping test results from top Russian athletes with doping test results from other athletes.

Videos of the four-part documentary which aired this week can be found on YouTube:

Part 1

Part 2

Part 3

Part 4

In the face of these allegations, BBC Sports suggests that Lance Armstrong will now have to relinquish his title for “the most sophisticated, professionalised and successful” doping scheme in the history of sports.

Also under fire in the documentary is the International Association of Athletics Federation (IAAF) which apparently did not act on information about 150 top athletes (not all of them Russian) with abnormal blood values. Such abnormal values often indicate doping, but between 2006 and 2008, there was no targeted testing of these 150 athletes. The list includes Russian, Kenyan, German, Spanish, Moroccan, and British athletes reports BBC Sport, but the names are apparently confidential.

Some top IAAF officials have stepped down this week in response to the allegations. These include Papa Massata Diack, an IAAF marketing consultant, IAAF legal adviser Habib Cisse and Valentin Balakhnichev, the president of the Russian athletics federation and the IAAF’s treasurer according to The Guardian. There are also fresh allegations that Papa Massata Diack may have received a $5 million bribe to host the 2017 world athletics championships in Qatar.

Read more:

The Guardian here.

BBC Sport here.

WADA here.