ATHLETICS: Russia was provisionally suspended from track and field over accusations of "state-sponsored" doping as the IAAF scrambled to salvage the sport's credibility just nine months out from the Rio Olympics.

"Today we have been dealing with the failure of ARAF (All-Russia Athletic Federation) and made the decision to provisionally suspend them, the toughest sanction we can apply at this time," IAAF president Sebastian Coe said.

"But we discussed and agreed that the whole system has failed the athletes, not just in Russia, but around the world.

"This has been a shameful wake-up call and we are clear that cheating at any level will not be tolerated."

Athletics Australia Chief Executive Officer, Phil Jones, has spoken affirmatively about the decision of the International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF) to provisionally suspend the All-Russian Athletics Federation (ARAF).

“Athletics Australia welcomes the decision by IAAF Council to provisionally suspend the All-Russian Athletics Federation as a consequence of allegations made in the WADA Independent Commission Report.

“The very strong vote of 22-1 in support of the suspension of the ARAF indicates that the newly elected IAAF Council, like Athletics Australia, has zero tolerance for doping in sport. Our expectation is that this will help to ensure the level playing field that all athletes deserve.

“We also welcome the IAAF announcement that the 2016 IAAF World Junior Championships and the 2016 IAAF World Race Walking Cup will now not be held in Russia.

“Consistent with our support of the action taken by the IAAF, Athletics Australia has indicated our interest in bidding, at the appropriate time, to host the IAAF World Race Walking Cup.

“There is much work to be done to ensure that circumstances like this do not arise again and to restore public confidence in the sport of athletics. Today the IAAF Council has taken a vital step in the right direction.

“We will make further comment on this matter after the IAAF Council has confirmed the terms of the provisional suspension at their next Council meeting, scheduled to take place at end of this month.”

To view the IAAF statement on the provisional suspension of the ARAF, please click here.

AFP and Athletics Australia