Over 800 athletes suspected of doping between 2001 and 2012, 146 medalists in Games and Championships under scrutiny...

These are the data revealed by the British newspaper Sunday Times and the German ARD network after having access to confidential files from the IAAF (12,000 samples from 5,000 athletes) that have "shaken the foundations of athletics". With these words, Craig Reddie, president of the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA), defined the information, which will be responsible for leading the investigation to try to clarify the sinister matter that emerged 20 days before the Beijing World Championships.

Dick Pound will lead the investigation

The investigation will be led by Dick Pound, who will head an Independent Commission already created in December 2014 following the ARD documentary in which several Russian athletes, one of the countries most implicated in the report along with Kenya, confessed to doping practices. "We consider these accusations to be a continuation of those and they require thorough analysis and a quick solution," said WADA, which wants to "investigate the validity of the accusations and the corrupt practices". The final report will be delivered at the end of the year.

The support from COI and AEPSAD

The President of the IOC, Thomas Bach, supported the initiative: "We have full confidence in WADA. If necessary, we will follow their example to protect clean athletes. If there are (doping) cases related to the Games, we will punish them with our zero tolerance policy". And from Spain, Gómez Bastida, director of the AEPSAD, extended his hand: "If WADA considers that national agencies have to collaborate in something, we are open to it. The information surprises us as much as everyone else, but it is not clearly defined what abnormal results are. They need to be defined"

The reaction from Lamine Diack

Such concern contrasted with the reaction of Lamine Diack, president of the IAAF, who considered the accusations "a joke". "So far they are just suspicions and speculations. It is possible that they realized that there was something abnormal, but that is not enough. To say that there is a doping case, different controls are needed, all the data must be available...", said Diack, who asked a rhetorical question: "Why would we silence them? I have always said that when there are doubts about our sanctions, this sport will die. There is a desire for medals to be redistributed". The IAAF confirms the existence of the database that would reveal suspicious samples, but talks about "the obligation of confidentiality" and is considering "legal measures".

Concerns in Russia and Kenya

In Russia, the National Anti-Doping Agency (RUSADA) pointed out: "There is nothing to hide. This concerns the worldwide system". Although the reality is that the report suggests that 80% of Russian podiums would be suspicious and 415 of their athletes would be under scrutiny. Currently, Russia is the country with the most sanctions, 49, and the most closely monitored, as in 2013, 51 athletes from there underwent more than four tests.

Kenya is another place where shadows are falling. 15 athletes sanctioned and 40 with more than four tests. In 2012, up to 346 Kenyans were tested.

Worldwide sanctions

In the world, there are 295 sanctioned athletes, of which four are from Spain, which has the Marta case in the CAS. From the Spanish Federation, José Luis de Carlos was cautious about this IAAF scandal: "We still do not have information on this issue".