The evidence has only been revealed now in a Moscow laboratory database that was withheld and tampered with in the possession of Russian state authorities between 2015 and 2019.

Investigators for the World Anti-Doping Agency have provided evidence from the database of alleged doping to sports governing bodies and the ITA.

The manipulation of the database led to two years of sanctions against Russian sports, such as athletes and teams being unable to compete as Russia at the Tokyo 2020 and Beijing 2022 Olympic Games. 

Instead, their accomplishments appeared under the name ‘Russian Olympic Committee’.

None of the suspected wrestlers went on to compete at the Olympics or win medals at the World Championships.

Last year, Russian wrestler Bilyal Makhov received a four-year ban for doping, which was backdated to the month he failed his drugs test - January 2020.

Makhov was a three-times world champion and a gold medallist in the 120 kilograms event at the London 2012 Olympic Games.