Russia facing complete ban from athletics as Sebastian Coe urges IAAF to make sanctions over doping programme

IAAF president Coe has admitted that the World Anti-Doping Agency's report into the Russian Athletics Federation is 'alarming'

IAAF president Sebastian Coe admits Wada's report into Russia is 'alarming' (Getty Images)

International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF) president Sebastian Coe has “urged the Council to start the process of considering sanctions” against Russia after the World Anti-Doping Agency (Wada) called for their suspension from all competition over sabotaging the London 2012 Olympics through doping.

After Wada released a damning 323-page report condemning the Russian Athletics Federation (ARAF)and the IAAF, Coe released an immediate statement via www.iaaf.org to address the “alarming” revelations.

The statement read: “In response to Wada's Independent Commission report issued today, the IAAF President, Sebastian Coe, has taken the urgent step of seeking approval from his fellow IAAF Council Members to consider sanctions against the Russian Athletics Federation (ARAF). These sanctions could include provisional and full suspension and the removal of future IAAF events.”

Coe added: "The information in Wada's Independent Commissions Report is alarming. We need time to properly digest and understand the detailed findings included in the report. However, I have urged the Council to start the process of considering sanctions against ARAF.

“This step has not been taken lightly. Our athletes, partners and fans have my total assurance that where there are failures in our governance or our anti-doping programmes we will fix them. We will do whatever it takes to protect the clean athletes and rebuild trust in our sport. The IAAF will continue to offer the police authorities our full co-operation into their ongoing investigation.”

The commission recommends that the Wada immediately declare the Russian federation "non-compliant" with the global anti-doping code, and that the IAAF suspend the federation from competition.

The report recommends that the International Olympic Committee not accept any entries from the Russian federation until the body has been declared complaint with the code and the suspension has been lifted.

Such a decision could keep Russian athletes out of next year's Olympics in Rio de Janeiro.