And there is set to be more bad news on the way with more samples from Beijing and London - specifically aimed at medal winners - set be be conducted throughout and beyond the Rio Games.

After a four-hour meeting, Olympic bosses said they would "explore their legal options with regard to a collective ban of all Russian athletes".

WADA announced the suspension late on Thursday, saying the suspension - which can be appealed - would last up to fourth months.

1,028 anti-doping tests were carried out in 2015, 295 of these were blood tests.

Russia's chances of sending an athletics team to the Rio Olympics appeared to recede on Sunday after a new documentary alleged further doping improprieties.

"Clean athletes and sports fans the world over have been let down. Trust in the sport is at its lowest point for decades."

Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger has called for blood tests to be introduced as a matter of routine in professional football, insisting his sport is not immune to the scourge of doping.

They also said that banning the entire Russian track and field team would be “absolutely unacceptable”.

Sebastian Coe is to be called to the British Parliament to be grilled about his claim that media investigations into widespread doping in athletics were a “declaration of war” on the sport.

“To be labelled something you are not and labelled a cheat is not fair: prove I am a cheat or leave me alone."

“The last two weeks have been the toughest of my life – with rumours and speculation about me that are completely false."