IAAF opens bids to reallocate events after Russia's suspension

The International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF) has reopened the bidding to find alternative hosts for two events, following its suspension on Russia.

The country's athletics federation was banned after a World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) independent commission alleged "state-sponsored doping". It was provisionally suspended from international competitions -- including the Olympic Games -- for its alleged involvement in widespread doping.

Russia was due to host the World Race Walking Team Championships and the World Junior Championships in 2016.

"IAAF Member Federations have been formally invited to submit applications to host these two events, it being understood that this will be an accelerated process to ensure maximum time available for the successful hosts to organise these two championships," it said in a statement.

Countries must register their interest in hosting the events by December 7.

The IAAF will then vote on which city will host the events on January 7.