Tuesday 10 November 2015 12:09, UK
Athletics has reacted with shock and disappointment to WADA's accusations of widespread doping, extortion and cover-ups in Russian athletics.
The World Anti Doping Agency has recommended Russia be suspended from international athletics as the result of an 11-month inquiry from an independent three-man panel, headed by former WADA president Dick Pound.
Nicole Sapstead, chief executive of UK Anti-Doping, said: "UKAD welcomes the report and awaits the actions which must inevitably follow.
"It highlights that the international playing field has not been level for our clean British athletes. Today's findings will go some way to levelling the field, and the whistle-blowers and media should be applauded for bringing these issues to WADA's attention."
British marathon runner Jo Pavey, four-time Great Britain Olympian, told Sky Sports News HQ: "This is one of those dark days for the sport. As a clean athlete, you work hard day-in, day out, putting yourself out on the track and when you find people are cheating they're ruining your career."
Michelle Voroken, the former director of ethics and doping for UK Sport, told Sky Sports News HQ: "This could very well be the tip of the iceberg, but some of the errors and mistakes in procedure may not be deliberate. We mustn't make the athletes the victims of a bad system."
Paula Radcliffe, Great Britain Marathon runner, tweeted: "Suspected some of this for years but way worse than imagined. Athletics needs to take strong action and move quickly forward in right direction."
Jenny Meadows, who had her 800 metres silver at the 2011 European Indoor Championships later upgraded to gold following the disqualification of Russia's Yevgeniya Zinurova, said: "Always suspected it but finally confirmation that the Russian Athletics Federation have denied me of my finest moments of my career."
Former GB heptathlete Kelly Sotherton tweeted: "Upset? No... Angry?...No Surprised? No.... Disappointed.... Yes! 2008 Olympics - I was 4th. (Russia's Tatyana) Chernova 3rd. And banned the following year for 3yrs."
Katharine Merry, who won 400 metres bronze for GB at the 2000 Olympics, said: "Not ashamed to say upset today...reading & listening to words that tear into the heart of our sport...our truly great sport. Sad times."
Minister for Sport Tracey Crouch said: "Our anti-doping agency UKAD works tirelessly to promote clean sport and we expect nations around the world to have a similar robust approach. Fans and athletes alike must be able to have complete faith that competition is fair."
Clive Efford MP, Labour's Shadow Minister for Sport said: "Wada's report is further evidence of how some at the top of international sport have become contemptuous of the law and consider themselves too powerful to be held to account for their corrupt behaviour.
"We now have people from the top of football and athletics potentially facing criminal proceedings. The Government should now urge the National Crime Agency to investigate if any crimes have taken place on UK soil."
