The two former RusAF officials have been sanctioned in relation to the Danil Lysenko case ©Getty Images

The Athletics Integrity Unit (AIU) has banned former Russian Athletics Federation (RusAF) officials Elena Orlova and Elena Ikonnikova for eight and six years, respectively, over their role in obstructing an anti-doping investigation into high jumper Danil Lysenko.

Orlova was a senior administrator at RusAF, while Ikonnikova was an anti-doping coordinator.

They were among a total of seven individuals associated with RusAF charged by the AIU last November.

The seven RusAF officials - including then-President Dmitry Shlyakhtin - were charged by the with obstructing an anti-doping investigation by forging documents to explain Lysenko's missed tests.

Both Orlova and Ikonnikova refused to provide mobile phones and electronic storage devices, which were demanded by the AIU to assist their investigation.

"The Disciplinary Tribunal has upheld the AIU's charge and banned RusAF staff Elena Ikonikkova and Elena Orlova for eight years and six years respectively under World Athletics rules for failing to comply with AIU's demands in the Danil Lysenko whereabouts investigation," an AIU statement read.

"In addition to these charges, the AIU has charged the two individuals along with several other senior federation officials with tampering and complicity in connection with whereabouts violations committed by Lysenko in November 2019.

"The disciplinary proceedings are ongoing."

The AIU conducted 22 witness interviews as part of its investigation.

The AIU also acquired 14 electronic storage devices, including mobile phones and computer hard drives, from relevant persons for inspection and analysis.

More than six terabytes of digital information was collected and analysed, and approximately 7,000 documents were translated from Russian to English.

Lysenko, the 2018 world indoor high jump champion, faces a ban of up to eight years.

RusAF has been suspended by World Athletics since November 2015 following revelations of state-sponsored doping.

The suspension has since been extended more than a dozen times.

The Lysenko affair plunged the organisation into further trouble and contributed to the AIU Board stating in a report earlier this year that the World Athletics Council should consider expelling RusAF.

RusAF paid World Athletics $6.31 million (£4.8 million/€5.32 million) in August to avoid expulsion from the governing body.

World Athletics Council last month extended the deadline for the Russian Athletics Federation’s Reinstatement Commission to finalise its restoration plan until March 1.