London Marathon 2015: Results in doubt after doping scandal emerges

The Sunday Times has reported that 7 of the last 12 winners of the London Marathon recorded what have been described as “suspicious blood scores”.

The newspaper, working with German broadcaster ARD,

Last week the newspaper - along with German broadcaster ARD -revealed details from a leak of 12000 blood test results from 5000 athletes. It described the revelations as displaying "the alarming extent of suspected cheating by elite athletes in the six mass public marathons around the world."

The Times says in its report that “In London, seven wins, six second places and seven third places were secured by "athletes whose blood tests were deemed suspicious by the experts". It alleges these conclusions have been arrived at following analysis by scientists Robin Parisotto and Michael Ashenden, whom they describe as two of the world’s “foremost forensics experts.”

In data that was obtained unlawfully from the International Association of Athletics Federations, or the IAAF, the world athletics governing body, the paper claims that winners from 34 major city marathons, including the London Marathon which took place on the 26th of April this year, "should have faced censure or at least been investigated over evidence of potential blood doping within their test results."

Speaking to the results of the London Marathon specifically, the paper alleged its experts believed that seven wins, six second places and seven third places were secured by athletes whose samples were deemed suspicious.

The identity of the whistleblower remains anonymous, but the IAAF has spoken out against them. In a statement issued earlier this week, it said it was “aware of serious allegations made against the integrity and competence of its anti-doping programme.”

It went on to say “...(the results) are largely based on analysis of an IAAF Data Base of private and confidential medical data which has been obtained without consent. The IAAF is now preparing a detailed response to both media outlets and will reserve the right to take any follow up action necessary to protect the rights of the IAAF and its athletes.”

The Federation has said further statement will be forthcoming shortly.

Earlier this week, several IAAF athletes who are due to compete in the World Championships this August in Beijing, were cleared of doping allegations, among them Olympic champions Usain Bolt of Jamaica and the UK’s Mo Farah, who shone at the 2012 Olympics in London. Farah is coached by embattled marathoner Alberto Salazar, who currently faces serious allegations of doping all his athletes following a BBC investigation into him earlier this year.