Paula Radcliffe has called for lifetime bans for any athlete found guilty of doping, amid allegations the practice is widespread in Russian sport.

Last week a German television documentary presented what it claimed was evidence of widespread drug use, while it also alleged that corruption extends beyond Russia and implicated the sport’s world governing body the IAAF in covering up the abuse.

Radcliffe, the women’s marathon world record holder, described the allegations as “shocking and sickening” and despite the World Anti-Doping Agency (Wada) saying that life bans for athletes convicted of doping offences are unenforceable in law, she believes that any athlete guilty of the offence should not be allowed to return to the sport.

“I would advocate a life ban for anybody intentionally doping but we know that unfortunately that can’t be implemented for legal reasons,” Radcliffe told BBC Radio 5 Live.

She called the increase to four-year bans “a big step” and called for sanctions against federations if several of their athletes are caught doping.

Wada president Sir Craig Reedie described the allegations as “dispiriting” but dismissed former discus thrower Yevgeniya Pecherina’s claims that 99 per cent of Russian athletes take performance-enhancing drugs.

“That figure is seriously hard to believe. Ninety nine per cent of what? Is it 99 per cent of elite athletes? Is it 99 per cent of all athletes? That figure is tough,” he said.

“There have been rumours for many years in different countries that people were breaking the rules but I’ve never heard anybody say 99 per cent.”

Reedie insists that Wada and other bodies will take action if the allegations prove to be true.