Athletics was thrown into turmoil in July 2015 after German broadcaster ARD and The Sunday Times newspaper in Britain alleged that blood doping was rampant, citing test results from an International Association of Athletics Federations database that were leaked by a whistleblower. In November, the scandal intensified, as a World Anti-Doping Agency investigation alleged that Russia had systematically covered up doping, and even blackmailed athletes who tested positive, with the support of IAAF chief Lamine Diack