News, views and top stories in your inbox. Don't miss our must-read newsletter Sign up Thank you for subscribing We have more newsletters Show me See our privacy notice Invalid Email

The London 2012 Olympics were “corrupted on an unprecedented scale” by drug cheat Russian athletes, a damning report has found.

More than 1,000 Russians, including Olympic medallists, across at least 30 sports, benefited from a state-sponsored doping programme, according to Prof Richard McLaren.

His report for the World Anti-Doping Agency found that athletes’ positive drug tests taken between 2011 and 2015 were covered up and, in some cases, coffee and salt were even used as the masking agents.

It comes after Russian athletes were banned from competing in the Rio Olympics this summer over doping claims.

Author Prof McLaren said: “It was a cover-up that evolved from uncontrolled chaos to an institutionalised and disciplined medal-winning conspiracy.”

(Image: Getty)

He said the doping system was refined during London 2012 and the 2014 Winter Games in Sochi, and a “fail safe” system was put in place to help likely Russian medal winners.

Russia won 72 medals at the London Games, 21 of which were gold, and 33 medals at Sochi, 13 of which were gold.

Prof McLaren wrote: “The desire to win medals superseded their collective moral and ethical compass and Olympic values of fair play.”

(Image: PA)

He added: “It is impossible to know just how deep and how far back this conspiracy goes.

“For years, international sports competitions have unknowingly been hijacked by the Russians. It’s time that this stops. Yes, stops!”

UK Anti-Doping chief Nicole Sapstead said the report was “hugely significant for sport and those who fight to keep it clean”.

Video Loading Video Unavailable Click to play Tap to play The video will start in 8 Cancel Play now

She said: “Everyone engaged in sport needs to ensure that the right processes, sanctions and safeguards are in place to protect everyone’s right to clean, fair and honest sport.”

Marathon runner Paula Radcliffe said Russia had committed a “huge fraud”.

She said: “We need to know this cannot happen ever again.”