A secret database has allegedly revealed widespread use of performance enhancing drugs in the sport of athletics.

German and British journalists who scoured leaked blood test results from between 2001 and 2012 reported an “extraordinary extent of cheating”.

Of the 5,000 athletes named in the database, 800 registered suspicious blood values, a German documentary based on the database alleged.

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The World Anti Doping Agency (WADA) said in a statement it was “very disturbed” by the allegations that will “shake the foundations of clean athletes worldwide”.

The leaked database was created by the International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF), the documentary reported.

British long distance gold medallist Mo Farah, recorded no abnormal blood tests, according to the documentary. Photo: Getty

The documentary alleged that athletes are increasingly using blood transfusions and EPO micro-dosing schemes to lift red cell counts and boost stamina.

“Never have I seen such an alarmingly abnormal set of blood values,” blood doping expert Robin Parisotto told the programme. 

Another blood doping analyst, Michael Ashenden, said that it was common for two of the three medallists in any event to have doped at some point in their career.

He said the IAAF had committed “a shameful ­betrayal of their primary duty to police their sport”.

“It suggests to me athletics is in the same diabolical position ­today that professional cycling was in 20 years ago.”

The IAAF told the programme it vehemently disputed the blood values uncovered proved doping.

Two of the world’s biggest athletics stars, Usain Bolt and Mo Farah, were not implicated by the database.

The allegations were referred to an independent commission looking into athletics doping that was set up by WADA last year.

THE FACTS BEHIND THE ATHLETICS DOPING SAGA

– Between 2001 and 2012, A third of Olympics and World championship medals won (146, including 55 golds) in endurance events were by athletes who recorded suspicious blood test results.

– None of the above athletes have been stripped of their medals.

– According to scientists, more than 800 athletes – one in seven of those named in the files – recorded blood tests described as being “highly suggestive of doping or at the very least abnormal”.

– Ten medals at the 2012 London Olympics were won by athletes who have dubious test results. In some finals, every athlete in the three medal positions had recorded a suspicious blood test.

– Athletes including champion runners Mo Farah and Usain Bolt emerged as clean with no abnormal results.

– Russia, Ukraine, Morocco, Spain and Kenya are claimed to top the list of countries with athletes who recorded abnormal blood test results, while Ireland, Canada, Serbia and New Zealand were at the bottom.

– More than 80 per cent of Russia’s medals have been won by questionable performances while Kenya had 18 medals won by athletes with suspicious results.