An independent commission report from the World Anti-Doping Agency has claimed that the IAAF council "could not have been unaware of the extent of doping in athletics" in Russia.
The council, which includes IAAF president Lord Sebastian Coe, has been accused of "embedded" corruption in the form of widespread doping and cover-ups within Russian athletics.
An 89-page report, which has been written by former WADA president Dick Pound, was made public on Thursday at a press conference in Munich.
In the last five months, allegations have emerged claiming that doping has been prevalent in Russian athletics, and that the government was involved in cover-ups.
The IAAF, which is the world's athletics governing body, has come under criticism since the allegations came to light, and last week, senior officials Papa Massata Diack - the son of former IAAF president Lamine Diack - Valentin Balakhnichev and Alexei Melnikov were issued with lifetime bans.
In Thursday's press conference, Pound told reporters: "The IAAF was insufficiently active in investigating matters of blood doping."
Professor Richard McLaren, who is a WADA member and legal counsel, added: "Certain individuals within the IAAF went beyond sporting corruption and may have been criminal corruption. It demonstrates that the time for reform, and not denial, is now.
"Aside from outlining reforms required from IAAF, it demonstrates that need for sporting bodies worldwide. The information very clearly indicates that the disruption of the organisation emanates from the very top - Lamine Diack."
Diack was replaced by Coe in August.
Danielle Joynson
