World and Olympic champion Jessica Ennis-Hill says athletics is in “a dark place” after Russia was suspended over allegations of systematic doping.
“To have that huge shadow of doubt cast is really disappointing,” said the British heptathlete, 29.
Ennis-Hill came second to Russia’s Tatyana Chernova – later banned for two years for doping – at the 2011 World Championships.
She has appealed to the IAAF to have her silver medal upgraded to gold.
Ennis-Hill’s coach Toni Minichiello is not sure Russia should be banned from international competition.
“I’m not convinced that it is the right decision,” he told BBC Sport, citing the boycotts of the 1980 and 1984 Olympics, external by nations who were on opposite sides in the Cold War.
“I don’t think they achieved a great deal if I’m honest.
“I don’t think it’s an achievement for us to be able to suspend a nation and then think that everything is still rosy. What we have to do is work with people and put in tougher drug-testing regimes.”
British sprinter Adam Gemili said banning the entire Russia athletics federation would punish clean athletes from the country.
“I feel really bad for those guys that will miss out if they do get totally suspended,” he said. “But the more people that are getting caught, the cleaner the sport is, and I’m all for a clean sport.”
