International Association of Athletics Federations president Sebastian Coe wants the Russian federation to respond by the end of this week to a damning report into systematic doping cheating.
The report by a World Anti-Doping Agency independent commission, published on Monday, called for Russian athletes to be suspended from all competitions, including the 2016 Olympic Games.
“I want an explanation,” said Coe in a conference call. “I am completely shocked by the allegations.”
“My instinct remains to encourage engagement not isolation, but the extent of what’s being said, I need to seek (IAAF) council support to have them (the Russian Athletics Federation) report back by the end of the week.”