In December 2014, the German broadcaster ARD made wide-ranging allegations of doping in Russian athletics and high-level cover-ups of this.

Alleging state involvement in systematic cheating, the documentary accused Russia of an "East German-style" doping programme.

[4] These resulted in then ARAF President Valentin Balakhnichev's resignation as Treasurer of the International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF).

[5] In response to this, the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) commissioned an investigation, the report of which was published on 9 November 2015.

[7][8] On 13 November, the IAAF council overwhelmingly voted 22–1 in favour of prohibiting Russia from world sports events with immediate effect.