The IAAF has announced that an investigation will take place after it was claimed during a German television documentary that doping was present in Russian sport.
The programme, which was aired on Wednesday, alleges that widespread and systematic corruption is aiding Russia's efforts in a number of sports, which has resulted in a quick response from the IAAF ethics commission.
An official statement read: "The IAAF has noted a number of grave allegations regarding doping activities related to the sport of athletics in Russia, which have been broadcast on the German TV channel ZDF/ARD on December 3, 2014.
"An investigation by the IAAF ethics commission is already ongoing with respect to some of the allegations made in the documentary.
"We would like to underline that the IAAF ethics commission is completely independent of the IAAF and has full powers to investigate and issue sanctions when relevant.
"A transcript in English of the German TV documentary has been forwarded to the ethics commission.
"With regard to matters revealed in the documentary related to anti-doping and therefore, outside the scope of the ethics commission, these will be studied carefully and dealt with according to the relevant IAAF rules and in full co-operation with WADA."
Russian athletics president Valentin Balakhnichev has branded the allegations a "pack of lies".
