Athletics’ world governing body has come in for severe criticism upon the publishing of the second part of a report by an independent commission established by WADA, which claims the IAAF could not have been unaware about the extent of doping in the highest level of the sport. The first part of the report released in November looked specifically at drugs problems in Russian Federation and found a system of “state-sponsored doping” which eventually led to the country’s suspension from worldwide athletics.
Advertisement
France has issued an worldwide wanted notice via Interpol for Papa Massata Diack, the son of former IAAF President Lamine Diack, saying he is wanted for corruption and money laundering. “He sanctioned and appears to have had personal knowledge of the fraud and the extortion of athletes”.
In a statement Thursday, the IAAF said it “fully acknowledges and accepts the extreme gravity of the Commission’s findings” and will incorporate the report’s recommendations into an ongoing governance review.
“It is alarming [if the alleged corruption is proven] that a small group of individuals in powerful positions within the IAAF were abetting and covering up doping for their own financial gain”, Athletics NZ chief executive Linda Hamersley said.
The independent commission’s (IC) report did clear the IAAF over its handling of suspicious blood tests, and effectively cleared Paula Radcliffe of any suspicion after she was identified as having provided one of the hundreds of samples involved. He did so to enable Cissé to manage and follow up Russian athlete biological passport cases.
The report said corruption was “embedded” in the International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF). WADA’s report recommended a forensic audit of the IAAF’s marketing, sponsorship, and TV rights agreements, as well as a complete reorganization of most functions.
Pound “does not believe” Coe lied when he said he did not know about the corruption.
Pound has said IAAF President Sebastian Coe, a vice president for seven years until his election last year, and fellow vice president Sergey Bubka could have done more to push for reforms at the federation.
The Wada report also says that Nick Davies, Coe’s right-hand man who is the subject of an ethics investigation, was “well aware of Russian “skeletons” in the cupboard”.
Former WADA leader Richard Pound, who headed the investigative panel, supported Coe staying in office.
Current IAAF president Lord Seb Coe, who was an IAAF vice-president for eight years until Diack’s resignation, is only mentioned once in the report, and isn’t directly implicated.
Former IAAF president Lamine Diack poses with Australia’s World Champion Sally Pearson and Liu Xiang of China in 2012.
According to McLaren, Cisse and Papa Massata Diack put up a “formidable barrier to the effective operation” of the IAAF’s efforts to clampdown on doping.
The findings are the latest in ongoing concerns about the integrity of track and field, a sport that has been mired in controversy for years and under a microscope since a November report from the WADA commission.
Advertisement
“As far as the ability of Lord Coe to remain at the head, it is a fabulous opportunity under strong leadership to move forward”.
