Former IAAF president Lamine Diack has been placed under criminal investigation on corruption and money-laundering charges.
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The 82-year-old, who earlier this year stepped down as the leader of the organization after 16 years at the helm, is suspected of taking at least 200,000 euros from Russian Federation to cover up positive doping tests, including disgraced marathoner Liliya Shobukhova and others. Dr Gabriel Dolle, the director of the IAAF medical and anti-doping department, also left the federation.
Athletics was plunged into further turmoil today as it emerged that Lamine Diack, the former head of the IAAF, is under formal investigation by French prosecutors as part of inquiry into suspected corruption.
IAAF treasure and president of the Russian Federation, Valentin Balakhnishev, was also implicated and stripped of his functions by the IAAF.
The Monaco-based IAAF confirmed a police swoop took place at its headquarters on Tuesday “to carry out interviews and to access documentation”. He is being investigated on charges of corruption and money laundering.
Diack – Only African to have headed the IAAF- endured a 16-year reign as Athletics top boss riddled with allegations of kickbacks from Sports Marketing companies.
Allegations made in a German television documentary past year of widespread doping and cover-ups in Russian Federation, a track and field superpower, are shaking the sport to its core.
The files say a third of all medals in endurance events (146, including 55 golds) at Olympics and World Championships were won by athletes who recorded suspicious tests, according to independent experts who have analyzed the data.
The IAAF said that the police probe emanates from ongoing examinations by its independent ethics committee and the WADA commission.
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British middle-distance great Coe beat his fellow IAAF vice president Sergey Bubka to the top role.
