'Ban Russian athletes from competition': Key revelations and recommendations in the World Anti-Doping Agency's report

Russia should be banned from athletics competition following "widespread and longstanding" cheating at all levels of Russian athletics, the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) has said.

The findings of an independent commission into doping set up by WADA have been revealed.

Here are some of the report's key revelations and recommendations.

Cheating 'widespread and longstanding'

There is a "deeply rooted culture of cheating" in Russian athletics, the report said.

"The pursuit of medals and exploitation of athletes for financial gain is well pronounced across Russian athletics," the report said.

It said many Russian athletes were involved in the "consistent and systematic use of performance enhancing drugs" and that those who did not want to participate in "the programme" were told they would not be considered for competitions.

The report said coaches attempted to "manipulate or interfere" with doping reports and testing procedures and were supported by medical professionals.

It added: "It is particularly alarming that there appears to be a collective disregard for the athletes' current or future state of health."

'State-supported doping'

The Russian security services interfered in the workings of Moscow's anti-doping laboratory and was complicit in doping, the report said.

Investigators said they had identified "intentional and malicious destruction" of more than 1,400 samples by Moscow laboratory officials.

"There was direct intimidation and interference by the Russian state with the Moscow laboratory operations," the report said.

The Ministry of Sport instructed lab staff to "manipulate particular samples", it said.

The report went on: "The Moscow lab's impartiality, judgement and integrity were compromised by surveillance of the FSB during Sochi games."

Richard Pound, chair of the commission, agreed that the actions of the FSB amounted to "state-supported doping".

London 2012 'sabotaged'

The London 2012 Olympics were "sabotaged" by athletes who should have been banned for doping, the report alleged.

'Corruption and bribery' at highest levels of athletics

The report found evidence of widespread corruption and bribery at the top of the International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF).

Interpol has said it will coordinate a large-scale investigation into the doping following the publication of the commission's findings.

The report's key recommendations included:

  • Russia should be banned from athletics competition

  • Five Russian athletes should be banned from the sport for life

  • Moscow's anti-doping laboratory should be closed as soon as possible and its director removed