THE IAAF said Sunday it will investigate claims that Russia is flouting demands for anti-doping reforms as it seeks readmission to world track and field in time for the Rio de Janeiro Olympics in August.

    German TV broadcaster ARD alleged that a banned Russian coach continued to train prominent athletes and that the acting head of the national anti-doping agency had allowed an athlete to reschedule a supposedly no-notice test.

    Separately, a key Russian whistleblower who helped to spark Russia’s doping scandal, 800-meter runner Yulia Stepanova, is bidding to compete at the Olympics despite the Russian ban, the IAAF said.

    Russia was suspended from global track and field by the IAAF in November following a damning report from a World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) commission. The IAAF said the accusations made Sunday by ARD would be investigated by the taskforce monitoring Russia during its suspension.

    (SD-Agencies)