IAAF president Seb Coe announced that Russia's athletics federation has been suspended from international competition following the recent doping scandal.

SOUNDBITE: (English) Sebastian Coe, IAAF president:

"Tonight our sport finds itself in a shameful situation. That is why I can confirm that the council has overwhelmingly voted, with immediate effect, to suspend the Russian (athletics) federation. It's done so, by 22 votes to one. It is the strongest sanction that we could apply tonight and it is why our council has sent such a strong message, this evening."

Journalist: "Do you expect to see Russia competing at the Rio Games?"

"That is entirely up to the Russian federation, and the speed with which we can.... enact change. Tonight I've announced the independent chair(person) of a group that will be involved in the verification across immeasurable outcomes, and we will be tough. And the chair is Rune Andersen. He's the independent chair, he's Norwegian and he is an international expert on anti-doping."

SOUNDBITE: (English) Sebastian Coe, IAAF president:

"It is entirely up to, the Russian federation and Russia to enact those changes. Our verification team will be tough and we will want to make sure that before there is a re-introduction to the sport, for their athletes and their for the federation, that those changes have taken place and not before."

SOUNDBITE: (English) Sebastian Coe, IAAF president:

"This is not about politics, this is about the protection of clean athletes, but the message that the council has sent tonight could not be stronger."

SOUNDBITE: (English) Sebastian Coe, IAAF president:

"This makes me angry. We find ourselves in a shameful position tonight, and we need to look at ourselves and we have made that quite clear. And in discussing the failings within the Russian federation we have also addressed in the meeting the failings within in our own organisation and I have tonight discussed with my council the proposals for making some strong, strong changes there. I have already instigated a root and branch reform"