Russian Athletics Federation (VFLA) President Valentin Balakhnichev criticised the International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF) in his final address in the role yesterday.

“I want to ask the IAAF to create a fairer balance,” he said at a VFLA session meeting before officially stepping down from his position.

“When 90 blood tests are taken from Russian sportsmen and just nine are taken in Britain over the same period, this is unfair.

“The law of averages will work against us. It is unfair to concentrate all your attention on just a few countries.”

Russia’s anti-doping agency (RUSADA) announced last month that three Olympic walking champions, Olga Kaniskina, Valery Borchin, Sergei Kirdyapkin, as well as 2011 world champion Sergei Bakulin and 2011 world silver medalist Vladimir Kanaykin had been suspended for doping infringements.

Russian athletes involved in major doping incidents will face disciplinary proceedings in the next three months as the sport bids to deal with a “crisis”.

The IAAF and the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) begun a probe into Russian race-walking after a German television documentary, broadcast by ZDF/ARD in December, alleged widespread drug use.

The allegations have not been verified by Reuters and Balakhnichev denounced them as “a pack of lies”.

Balakhnichev did, however, admit that the fight against doping in Russia was not successful enough.

“The main problem is working within the regions of our country,” he said.

“Up until recently, they did not take on any responsibility. For them, when someone got caught taking illegal substances, it was always a surprise.”

One of Russia’s top coaches, Ivan Bitsenko, said responsibility for doping offences lay with the athletes.