From Inside the Games
Family members of former International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF) President Lamine Diack have stepped-up their campaign to secure his release by distributing a brochure of achievements supposedly “patiently pursued by a man of conviction”.
Diack, the 84-year-old Senegalese who was replaced by Sebastian Coe as IAAF chief in 2015, was charged with corruption and aggravated money laundering as part of a French investigation on November 4, 2015.
He has been held under house arrest in Paris as an investigation continues.
Among other things, he is accused of involvement in a plot to accept money in return for the covering up of doping cases.
An investigation is also exploring allegations that he received money in return for influencing the result of Olympic bid processes for the 2016 and 2020 Summer Games.
“Following an invitation from the French National Olympic and Sports Committee, President Lamine Diack has been placed under house arrest since Nov. 1, 2015 on the French territory and this, without health care, compensation or coverage expense from France,” read a message signed by “President Lamine Diack’s family”.
“A judicial cooperation convention which had been signed on March 29, 1974 between Senegal and France should allow President Lamine Diack to go back near his family and to appear at the court for further investigation.
“In this regard, for humanitarian reasons we request the alleviation of his judicial control.
“We, President Lamine Diack’s family, are launching a communication campaign to mark his two-year right and liberty restriction and in order to give more weight and impetus to this movement we are requesting the support of all good wills.
“We would just like to draw your attention to that fact and we do hope that you would feel concerned too.”
