The world athletics body has slammed allegations of widespread doping amongst its athletes as “sensationalist and confusing”.

In a much anticipated first official response to claims that one in six athletes might have doped, the IAAF said it “strongly rejected” the assertions that have rocked the sporting world just weeks out from the world championships in China.

“The published allegations were sensationalist and confusing,” the International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF) said in a statement.

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The world body said it had published a detailed analysis of the leaked database more than four years ago, dismissing claims it was “secret”.

“The IAAF also continues to cooperate with and assist WADA in its ongoing investigations.”

A German documentary produced in conjunction with British journalist earlier this week claimed it had seized an IAAF database uncovering an unusually high number of athletes with irregular blood readings. 

Covering 12,000 tests taken from 5,000 athletes the documentary stated the information evidenced “extraordinary” levels of doping.

Australian doping experts Michael Ashenden and Robin Parisot examined the results for the report.

It said one third of endurance athletics medals at Olympics and world championships between 2001 and 2012, were won by competitors with suspicious results.

The IAAF hit back in its statement by saying: “the results referred to were not positive tests. In fact, ARD and The Sunday Times both admit that their evaluation of the data did not prove doping”.

It boasted that “under its pioneering Athlete Biological Passport (ABP) system, more athletes have been banned for cheating by the IAAF than all other sports federations and national anti-doping agencies put together”.

“There is no space for shortcuts, simplistic approaches or sensationalism when athletes’ careers and reputations are at stake.”

The two countries mainly targeted by the allegations, Russia and Kenya, have also issued strong rebuttals.

Kenya has called the claims “libellous” while Russian athletics chief Vadim Zelichenok said they were based on “biased material, which isn’t based on facts”.

On Monday, IOC president Thomas Bach vowed “zero tolerance” for any Olympics athletics results tainted by doping.

– with ABC