Lord Coe has defended his record at the IAAF, but says there have been failures in detecting blood doping during his time at athletics' governing body.
Coe was Vice-President in 2007 before becoming president in August, with The Sunday Times claiming widespread doping occurred between 2001 and 2012.
Coe told a select committee on Wednesday that as Vice-President he had not been oblivious to doping claims.
"Were all our systems good enough - I doubt it," he said.
Coe said that much of his time as Vice-President had been spent delivering the London 2012 Olympics.
"I was aware we had a problem, but the specific numbers, I did not," he said.
"Every six months the anti-doping unit would deliver its progress - that was the extent of information we were given. Was I aware the problem was escalating? Yes."
Accusations about doping in athletics in recent months have included an independent World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) report that alleged "state-sponsored doping" in Russia.
Two-time Olympic 1500m champion Coe had initially been called before the Commons culture, media and sport select committee to explain earlier criticism of The Sunday Times investigation, which he called "a declaration of war on my sport".
The newspaper investigation stated that a third of medals in endurance events at the Olympics and World Championships over 11 years were won by athletes who had recorded suspicious tests, but Coe said his comments were not an attack on the media.
"My observation at the time was that it was reckless use of data, to actually imperil the reputation of clean athletes and [Britain's marathon world record holder] Paula Radcliffe's treatment was a clear example of that," he added.
"I stick by the sentiments. I probably might have chosen different language. It probably expressed my frustration and yes, anger at the time.
"I'm sorry this has mutated into an attack on the media. I will die in a ditch for the right for media groups to question my motives, to call to task the sport I'm currently head of.
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