According to a German TV exposé, systematic doping is endemic in Russian sport.
The documentary by German channel ARD claims that a wide range of sports are affected, although Russian officials have strenuously denied the allegations.
Documentary filmmaker Hajo Seppelt joined us on Off The Ball tonight to talk about how he gathered the evidence for the investigation.
"[It was] thanks to two very important and good whistleblowers - the most important whistleblowers in the history of doping for me," said Seppelt, referring to former 800m runner Yuliya Stepanova and her husband Vitaliy Stepanov, who was an official ex-official at the Russian anti-doping agency.
"She told [Vitaliy] from the beginning that in Russia, almost all athletes - at least in athletics - are doping."
Seppel explained how the couple, who have had to leave Russia, then began providing him with video and audio evidence, having already leaked information to WADA, which Seppelt said was not taken up by the organisation as there was no proof at the time.
According to the testimony of the whistleblowers, the alleged message in Russian sport is that sporting achievement is nigh on impossible if an athlete does not submit to doping, with doctors supplying illegal supplements and products.
He also feels that the problem is worse in Russia than in the West, because aspects of Soviet Union era infrastructure remain in place, with alleged cover-ups within Rusada - Russia's anti-doping agency.
He also described as "bulls***" the allegation from Russia that the whistleblowers were paid.
Listen to the full interview below:
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