A spokesman for Russia president Vladimir Putin has stated that accusations of state-sponsored doping in the country 'appear unfounded'.

A World Anti-Doping Agency commission has released a report which details allegations of doping, cover-ups and extortion within Russian athletics.

Putin's spokesman Dmitry Peskov has stated that when such claims are made, they must be based on reliable evidence.

"As long as there is no evidence, it is difficult to consider the accusations, which appear rather unfounded," The Independent quotes Peskov as saying.

The independent commission has recommended that Russia be banned from future athletics competitions, including next year's Olympics in Rio.