Montreal, Sep 4 (IANS): The World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) has spent close to $70 million on research in the past 15 years, the agency said in an annual report.

According to the report, $1.591 million were spent on the working of the independent WADA commission that looked into alleged doping violations on the part of Russian athletes, reports Sputnik.

"Since 2001, WADA has committed more than $68 million to scientific research through funds procured from Governments, the IOC (International Olympic Committee) and other stakeholders," WADA said in its 2015 Annual Report published on Saturday.

In July, an independent WADA commission led by Canadian law professor Richard McLaren presented a report, in which Russia was accused of running a state-wide doping programme, urging the IOC to consider a blanket ban on the entire Russian team.

Russia initially applied to send 387 athletes to the 2016 Summer Olympic Games in Brazil but only 280 athletes were allowed by the international sport leadership to compete in Rio.