Athletes to carry anti-doping messages in Amsterdam

Athletes competing at the European Athletics Championships in Amsterdam will wear special bibs bearing anti-doping messages.

Athletics has been rocked by a series of scandals, which included the Russian Athletics Federation being suspended by the IAAF over accusations of state-sponsored doping, preventing athletes from the nation competing for their country at the upcoming Rio Olympics.

However, the organisers of the European Athletics Championships have taken steps to promote a positive image of athletics, with athletes carrying the messages "I Run Clean", "I Throw Clean" and "I Am Clean" on their bibs.

"We want to give a voice to clean athletes on how they want our sport to be in the future, and this championships is the time for them to make a statement," European Athletics President Svein Arne Hansen said in a statement.

"We want these simple statements to be adopted by the athletes as a platform for other ways they can fight doping. We need to think how we can take this message to the grassroots, promoted by our elite athletes who care about clean athletics.

"The vast majority of athletes are clean but have been hurt by the recent situation and the way their sport and livelihood has been dragged through the mud. It is important to give them the opportunity to express their feelings."

European Athletics is also encouraging the use of hashtags carrying the same messages on social media to promote a clean sport.

The Championships take place between July 6 and 10.