Bubka ‘shock’ at drug claims

Athletics: Sergey Bubka, the IAAF vice president, said he is "deeply shocked" at the doping allegations against Russian athletes.

The Ukrainian pole vault great has called for a “zero tolerance policy” towards banned substances and said punishments for those found guilty of doping should not only hit the athletes involved, but their entourage as well.

“We should fight the criminal networks, which make millions on doping and we should punish also doctors, judges, coaches, managers and others if they are involved in doping and corruption.

“This is not an easy task due to different laws in different countries. But without fighting the whole network, one cannot win the fight against doping.”

Last week, a German TV documentary presented what it claimed was evidence of systematic doping among Russian athletes, and implicated world governing body the IAAF in covering up the abuse.

The Russian Athletics Federation claims the allegations are untrue, while the IAAF’s independent ethics commission is already investigating the allegations and the World Anti-Doping Agency has revealed it will follow suit.

Paula Radcliffe described the allegations as “shocking and sickening” and said countries found guilty of widespread doping should be banned from Olympic Games or World Championships.

“If it is true that 99% of athletes are cheating then maybe Russia should not be in the World Championships and not take part in the next Olympic Games.”

WADA president Craig Reedie described the allegations as “dispiriting”, but dismissed former discus thrower Yevgeniya Pecherina’s claims 99% of Russian athletes take performance-enhancing drugs.

“There have been rumours for many years in different countries that people were breaking the rules but I’ve never heard anybody say 99%.”