The World Anti Doping Agency (WADA) said in a statement it was “very disturbed” by the allegations that will “shake the foundations of clean athletes worldwide”.
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Reedie said he would pass the allegations to an independent commission looking into separate allegations aired by ARD in December of widespread doping in Russian athletics. Russian sports minister Vitaly Mutko has said the allegations had “nothing to do with Russia” and they reflected a power battle ahead of the IAAF leadership vote.
The reports said more than 800 of the athletes recorded one or more “abnormal” results, defined as a result that had less than one chance in a 100 of being natural. That said, right now the world championships are right around the corner which begs those in the running world to ask if enough is being done to prevent cheating.
Blood tests were not used as an official sanctioning tool until 2009 but the leaked data still showed a high number of suspicious or abnormal test results subsequently, he said.
It is also claimed that a top UK athlete is among seven Britons with “suspicious” blood scores, while 10 medals were won at the London 2012 Olympics by athletes who have reportedly recorded dubious test results.
The reports were based on “private and confidential medical data which has been obtained without consent”, the IAAF added.
“…in my opinion (it’s) a shameful betrayal of their primary duty to police their sport and to protect the clean athletes”, he said.
But the IAAF faced criticism from within athletics.
European Athletics boss Svein Arne Hansen has warned that the sport’s integrity is “non-negotiable”, if it is continue to succeed.
The 2015 World Championships begin later this month in Beijing.
And they betrayed all clean athletes – still a majority, but not exactly an overwhelming one – by keeping information of so many suspicious tests under lock and key.
The allegations are the latest setback to tarnish the multi-billion dollar world of sport after the scandal at soccer’s global governing body, FIFA.
The World Anti-Doping Agency (Wada) said it was alarmed by the size and extent of the allegations, which it said should be investigated.
Any sanctions are likely to be a drawn-out process however, as the WADA investigation will be extended by the new allegations.
Abnormal results are not proof that doping exists, but they do raise questions over whether the IAAF are doing enough to stamp out the problem.
Reedie told reporters in Kuala Lumpur he had hoped to get Pound’s report as early as September but that would have to be put back because of the new accusations.
“In the past, I’ve been a little bit frustrated to have lost to athletes who have tested positive but I can’t really say much for other athletes”.
Reedie said initial findings had been expected by September, but the new allegations meant it could now take longer. An athlete can put themselves at significant health risks using the technique. The leaked files came from the database of the IAAF.
The Sunday newspaper said the athlete had sworn on the lives of loved ones that they had never blood-doped.
Diack denied any wrongdoing by his federation, claiming that the IAAF “has done everything for doping control” over that specific period.
“I’m only surprised they’ve found a means to catch these athletes because most of the time a lot of the athletes over many years and coaches…have systems to get past tests”.
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“On claims of financial impropriety on our top leadership, past and present, we have instructed our legal team to study the documentary with a view of bringing legal action against the TV station and the author”, it said.
