The hotline, which allows for anonymous reporting directly to McLaren, is available on the investigation's dedicated website.

It is powered by Crimestoppers, a charity that gives people the power to speak up and stop crime, corruption and cheating.

Working alongside his team from McLaren Global Sport Solutions, the Canadian lawyer - whose investigative work did so much to expose state-sponsored doping in Russian sport - is investigating accusations raised in a German television documentary in January.

Allegations of corruption in finance and anti-doping procedures involving the International Weightlifting Federation (IWF), and of doping by children in Thailand, were made in the television documentary Secret Doping – Lord of the Lifters, which was shown by the German state broadcaster ARD on January 5.

Tamás Aján, who was the main target of the ARD programme, stood aside as President of the IWF for 90 days while the investigation takes place.

The IWF said Professor McLaren had been appointed "to independently investigate allegations of impropriety surrounding President Dr Tamás Aján and the IWF".

"This whistleblower service enables weightlifters, support personnel, coaches, staff and concerned family or friends to pass information directly to Professor McLaren about the level of this corruption, 100% anonymously," the website reads.

"Please be sure to give as much information as you can, because unless you take up the two-way option, it is impossible for us to ask you any further questions. 

"All information provided, no matter how small or insignificant, will be researched."