Wada report into doping claims by 'end of December 2015'

The German documentary claims have been dismissed as "lies" by Russian athletics officials.

An investigation into allegations of widespread doping and corruption in athletics will be completed before the end of the year "at the latest", the World Anti-Doping Agency has said.

Wada has created a three-man panel to investigate claims aired in a German television documentary last month.

In a document setting out the aims of the commission, Wada says it will report back by 31 December 2015.

But Wada president Sir Craig Reedie can extend that date if "appropriate".

The findings will be published within 30 days of being submitted to Reedie.

Claims that a top British athlete escaped a doping inquiry after officials decided not to look into 150 suspicious blood samples were among the allegations broadcast.

That prompted a separate investigation by the sport's governing body, the International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF), which was accused of the failure.

An earlier programme shown by German broadcaster ARD alleged as many as 99% of Russian athletes were guilty of doping.

Those claims were rejected as "lies" by the Russian Athletics Federation, which has also launched its own investigation.

The Wada commission is being chaired by the organisation's former head, Dick Pound.