Russian athletes could lose Olympic medals in aftermath of doping report

Some Russian track and field athletes could lose their Olympic medals in the aftermath of a report on alleged widespread doping in their country.

The International Olympic Committee reacted to the study Tuesday by asking the international track federation to initiate disciplinary procedures and vowing to review results from past Games.

“The IOC will take all the necessary measures and sanctions with regard to the withdrawal and reallocation of medals, and as the case may be, exclusion of coaches and officials from future Olympic Games,” the committee’s executive board announced.

IOC officials also provisionally suspended the honorary membership of Lamine Diack, former president of the international track federation, who is under criminal investigation for taking bribes to suppress positive test results.

The uproar began Monday with the release of a much-awaited report by the World Anti-Doping Agency’s independent commission.

The commission found evidence of cheating among Russian track and field athletes as part of an alleged program involving sports officials, coaches, doctors and perhaps the government.

The agency has revoked the accreditation of a Russian testing lab and recommended that Russian track athletes be banned from competitions -- including the upcoming 2016 Summer Games -- unless immediate reforms are enacted.

Twitter: @LATimesWharton

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