There are calls for immediate action in the wake of alleged widespread doping in athletics.
The Minister for Sport says he is sick and tired of cheats - and that they need to be weeded out.
The World Anti-Doping Agency said it is "alarmed" by what it describes as the "wild allegations" of mass doping in athletics exposed by today's Sunday Times.
The article alleges that a third of Olympic and World Championship medals were won by athletes who recorded suspicious doping tests.
The data was leaked by a whistleblower at the International Association of Athletics Federations, based on test results over more than a decade.
Sport Minister Michael Ring says it is high time for the issue to be tackled globally:
The Sunday Times and German broadcaster ARD/WDR gained access to a database of 12,000 blood-test results from 5,000 international athletes.
The data, which was kept at the International Association of Athletics Federations' (IAAF) Monaco headquarters, was reportedly released by a whistle-blower.
It reveals that as many as 55 gold medals have been awarded to athletes with suspicious results.
Two anti-doping experts - scientist Robin Parisotto and exercise physiologist Michael Ashenden - reviewed the files for The Sunday Times.
Mr Parisotto, who regularly reviews athletes' blood-test results, told the newspaper: "Never have I seen such an alarmingly abnormal set of blood values.
"So many athletes appear to have doped with impunity and it is damning that the IAAF appears to have idly sat by and let this happen."
Other disclosures made after analysis of the data include a claim that more than 800 athletes recorded blood-test results described as "highly suggestive of doping or at the very least abnormal."
Paul Kimmage on doping scandal: "This stuff costs lives, it ruins lives and it has to be addressed"
The newspaper also reported that 10 medals at the London 2012 Olympics were won by athletes who recorded dubious tests results.
Mr Ashenden said the IAAF had committed "a shameful betrayal of their primary duty to police their sport and to protect clean athletes".
The IAAF reportedly threatened to take out an injunction to prevent publication of the files.
It said the newspaper "is in unlawful possession of the IAAF's entire blood-testing database of over 12,000 samples covering the years 2001-20012, or at least a very substantial part of it".
The World Anti-Doping Agency (Wada) said it was "very alarmed" by the allegations in the Sunday Times and the ARD documentary.
Wada president Sir Craig Reedie said: "Wada is very disturbed by these new allegations that have been raised by ARD; which will, once again, shake the foundation of clean athletes worldwide."
He added hat given the nature of the claims, they would be immediately passed on to the organisation's Independent Commission to investigate further.
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