Russia to be suspended from world athletics?

Geneva - A World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) commission on Monday recommended athletics governing body IAAF suspend Russia from competition as it reported on its investigation into systematic doping in the country.

Additionally it recommended five Russian athletes and five coaches be banned for life for doping offences and that the anti-doping lab in Moscow should lose its accreditation.

The allegations of doping and a culture of corruption to cover up positive tests in Russia was first made by German broadcaster ARD in December 2014.

In response, WADA convened a three-man commission headed by founder Dick Pound which carried out an 11-month investigation.

Much of the report which focused on the IAAF was withheld Monday as not to prejudice the ongoing criminal investigation by French authorities into former president Lamine Diack.

The 82-year-old Senegalese is under investigation on charges of corruption and money laundering by accepting bribes to cover up doping charges.

Diack presided over the IAAF from 1999 until August this year when he was replaced by double Olympic 1500m champion Sebastian Coe.

Earlier Monday, the ethics commission of the International Olympic Committee recommended the provisional suspension of Diack as an honorary member.