Kuala Lumpur - World Anti-Doping Agency chief Craig Reedie said on Sunday that new accusations of mass doping in athletics would "shake the foundation" of clean sport and that an existing investigation into drug cheats in Russia would be extended.
Reedie told reporters at an International Olympic Committee meeting that the numbers involved and the greater use of blood doping had shocked him.
WADA said in a statement that it was "very alarmed" by the new accusations broadcast by German television channel ARD and reported by Britain's Sunday Times.
Russian and Kenyan athletes featured strongly in the programme aired just three weeks before the start of the world championships in Beijing.
"WADA is very disturbed by these new allegations that have been raised by ARD which will, once again, shake the foundation of clean athletes worldwide," Reedie said in the statement.
Reedie told reporters that he would pass the allegations to an independent commission looking into allegations aired by ARD in December of widespread doping in Russian athletics.
The new allegations said that leaked results from 12 000 blood tests on 5 000 competitors by the International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF) showed the wide extent of cheating in the sport.
World Anti-Doping Agency chief Craig Reedie said Sunday that new accusations of mass doping in athletics would "shake the foundation" of clean sport and that an existing investigation into drug cheats in Russia would be extended.
Reedie told reporters at an International Olympic Committee meeting that the numbers involved and the greater use of blood doping had shocked him.
WADA said in a statement that it was "very alarmed" by the new accusations broadcast by German television channel ARD and reported by Britain's Sunday Times.
Russian and Kenyan athletes featured strongly in the programme aired just three weeks before the start of the world championships in Beijing.
"WADA is very disturbed by these new allegations that have been raised by ARD which will, once again, shake the foundation of clean athletes worldwide," Reedie said in the statement.
Reedie told reporters that he would pass the allegations to an independent commission looking into allegations aired by ARD in December of widespread doping in Russian athletics.
The new allegations said that leaked results from 12 000 blood tests on 5 000 competitors by the International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF) showed the wide extent of cheating in the sport.
Pound's commission is looking into claims of doping by Russian athletes, encouraged by coaches and doctors, which were aired by ARD in December.
Reedie told reporters in Kuala Lumpur he had hoped to get Pound's report as early as September but that would have to be put back because of the new accusations.
"It will take a little bit longer but I would rather they look into it and get the answers," he said.
Reedie said he had been particularly concerned by "the spread of the allegations" and "the blood issues".
The programme put the spotlight on Russian and Kenyan athletes alleged to have used banned techniques. But British media said one top British athlete had also been found on the database with suspicious test results.