Moscow, Dec 11 (IANS): The head of Russian athletics federation said he has stepped down from his role as IAAF treasurer while accusations of systematic doping by Russian athletes are investigated.

Valentin Balakhnichev said Wednesday that he and his federation had been subjected to "brutal persecution" following allegations in a German TV documentary that doping in Russia was commonplace and test results routinely falsified, reports Xinhua.

Balakhnichev told the Tass agency he plans to return to his International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF) post at "the end of the investigation into this doping scandal".

The German programme, broadcast by ARD last week, also appeared to show reigning Olympic 800-metre champion Maria Savinova admitting to using the banned steroid oxandrolone.

ARD and French sports daily L'Equipe reported that three-time Chicago Marathon winner Liliya Shobukhova paid 450,000 euros ($560,000) to avoid a doping ban.