LONDON (REUTERS) - Athletics' world governing body voted overwhelmingly on Friday to provisionally suspend the Russian federation and the country's athletes from the sport following revelations of widespread, state-sponsored doping earlier this week.

The International Association of Athletics Federations' (IAAF) council voted 22-1 in favour of the sanction.

The decision came after the IAAF held a teleconference, hosted by president Sebastian Coe, to discuss the report released on Monday by the independent commission of the World Anti-Doping Agency (Wada), which recommended the punishment.

The report alleged "systemic" collusion between Russian athletes and the country's federation and anti-doping authorities and a "deeply-rooted culture of cheating" that enabled athletes to take performance-enhancing drugs without fear of being tested.

Positive tests were covered up or destroyed.