BREAKING NEWS: 1000 Russian athletes implicated in doping scandal

More than 1000 Russian athletes took advantage of a four year state-sponsored doping programme from 2011, according to a shocking report.

The final part of the McLaren report implicates four Sochi 2014 medallists and five from London 2012.

Adding more details of the doping it revealed in July, the report described an “institutional conspiracy” involving Russia’s secret service.

According to the report the athletes did not act alone but were part of a systematic program.

The report’s author, Professor Richard McLaren,appointed by the World Anti-Doping Agency, said: “There was a cover up that evolved into an institutional and disciplined medal-wining strategy.”

The report said the system was refined over the course of the London 2012 Olympics, 2013 World Athletics Championships in Moscow and the Sochi Winter Olympics where a now “fail safe” system was in place to protect likely Russian medal winners.

Russia won 72 medals at the London Games, 21 of which were gold, and 33 medals at Sochi 2014, 13 of which were gold.

“The Russian Olympic team corrupted the London games on an unprecedented scale – the extent of which will probably never be fully established,” the report added.

“The desire to win medals superseded their collective moral and ethical compass and Olympic values of fair play,” McLaren wrote.

The report added depth and supporting evidence to the initial findings published in July – that Russia operated a state-sponsored doping programme.

That first report was met with denials from Russia and calls for more proof from the International Olympic Committee.