Athletics Australia has called for Russia to be banned from competing in the 2016 Rio Olympics over reports of a state-sponsored doping program for Russian athletes.

Russian track and field athletes could be banned from the Rio Olympics next year after the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) revealed the systematic government-backed cheating. The investigation WADA and the organisation’s former president Dick Pound carried out had found a “deeply rooted culture of cheating at all levels” within Russian athletics.

WADA’s report indicated that more than 1,400 samples were intentionally destroyed by a Moscow laboratory even after a plea from the anti-doping organisation to reserve them. The report also suggests that the 2012 London Olympics, where Russia won 24 gold medals, were sabotaged by the admission of athletes “who should have not been competing.”

The International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF) recommended that the five athletes and five coaches, all from Russia, be banned for life.

Athletics Australia chief executive Phil Jones called for Russia’s athletic federation to be banned from next year’s Olympic games in Rio, saying that while he was never sure doping was taking place in Russia, he was not surprised by the report. Jones said that most Australian athletes would feel frustrated with the report as the nation has “a lot of very good, clean athletes,” adding that they have the need to feel that the issue needs to be fixed.

"I think many people were suspicious before and I think they'll be suspicious now,” Jones said, reports the ABC. “It is a long road back but the sport can rise above this and will.”

Russian Anti-Doping Agency (RUSADA) Director Nikita Kamaev criticised WADA’s report as “unprofessional, illogical, and declarative.” But United States Anti-Doping Agency (USADA) Travis Tygart, who brought down cyclist Lance Armstrong, applauded WADA’s effort.

"The evidence released today demonstrates a shocking level of corruption, and sends a clear message to Russia that they will not be allowed to cheat the world's athletes and escape justice behind a wall of deception and lies," Tygart said, reports CNN. "If Russia has created an organized scheme of state supported doping, then they have no business being allowed to compete on the world stage.”

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