Athletics federation reject doping claims

Allegations that international athletics body the IAAF turned a blind eye to suspicious blood tests involving hundreds of athletes have been strenuously denied by the organisation.

A lengthy response by the IAAF to the claims by a German broadcaster and The Sunday Times said the allegations were "sensationalist and confusing".

German broadcaster ARD/WDR and The Sunday Times gained access to a database containing more than 12,000 blood tests from 5,000 athletes. It claimed more than 800 athletes - and a third of all medallists in endurance events at recent Olympics and World Championships - had suspicious blood test results which were not followed up by the IAAF.

The IAAF said in its response: "The published allegations were sensationalist and confusing: the results referred to were not positive tests. In fact, ARD and The Sunday Times both admit that their evaluation of the data did not prove doping."