The World Anti-Doping Agency has released a statement after allegations of anti-doping rule violations are aired in an ARD/WDR documentary

Sir Craig Reedie has said that the latest allegations of anti-doping rule violations in Russian athletics suggest that there is still "much, much work" to be done in Russia.

The president of the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) was quoted in a statement released by the organisation on Monday, the day after a third documentary from German broadcasters ARD/WDR was aired.

The documentary– entitled ‘Russia’s Red Herrings’ – alleges that a provisionally suspended coach had continued to work with elite athletes, that prior notice of doping tests had been given by a member of the Russian Anti-Doping Agency, and that an individual connected with the All-Russian Athletics Federation (ARAF) was providing banned substances to athletes.

An independent commission, chaired by WADA founding president Dick Pound, had been formed after the broadcast of another ARD documentary – ‘Top-secret doping: How Russia makes its winners’ – which aired in December 2014. Since then, the ARAF has been suspended as an IAAF Member, with a report by the independent commission having detailed findings including a “deeply rooted culture of cheating” in Russian athletics.

"At a time when trust in sport is wafer thin, these troubling assertions will do little to reinforce confidence in the Russian anti-doping system when clean athletes need it most," said Reedie (pictured above).

"The allegations suggest that there is still much, much work to be done in Russia; and, that we will need the full and unwavering cooperation of the Russian authorities to reverse the damage. Until this happens, clean athletes won’t be able to trust that there is a level playing field.

"These allegations are already in the hands of the IAAF Taskforce, which is the relevant athletics body; as well as, the authorities within Russia. I have no doubt that they will look at these matters without delay and draw the appropriate conclusions," he added.

The testing of Russian athletes is currently being overseen by UK Anti-Doping (UKAD), and WADA announced that "the next important step" is to "install two international experts in Russia" to ensure that the anti-doping system is fully independent.

"When sports officials offer banned substances to athletes, deliberately provide advance notice of tests, or continue coaching when they have been banned from coaching, their actions only serve to undercut the globally-accepted system that we have spent years putting in place," continued Reedie.

"These allegations will further disgust clean athletes around the world; and, reinforce in their minds that there is still much work to be done to repair the anti-doping system in Russia."