From Inside the Games
Frankie Fredericks has temporarily stepped down from his role as a member of the International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF) Council, according to the body’s President Sebastian Coe.
The IAAF head confirmed the former Namibian sprinter had not resigned completely but had “decided to step away from all this as he needs time to sort all this”.
The Briton said Fredericks would not attend the next meeting of the IAAF’s ruling Council, scheduled to take place next month.
Coe had previously claimed Fredericks, who has resigned as a member of the IAAF Taskforce on Russia and as the chair of the International Olympic Committee (IOC) Evaluation Commission for the 2024 Games, would remain part of the Council despite the ongoing ethics investigation.
The IOC Ethics Commission is looking into payments a company linked to the four-time Olympic silver medallist received three days before Rio de Janeiro was awarded the 2016 OIympic and Paralympic Games in 2009.
The 49-year-old has denied any wrongdoing but has relinquished all IOC responsibilities as the investigation unfolds.
It comes after European Athletics head Svein Arne Hansen claimed individuals under suspicion for any potential ethics breaches should immediately step down from sporting roles while allegations are investigated.
“I have spoken to him [Fredericks] regularly since this issue came out and he decided to step away from all this as he needs time to sort all this,” Coe said in Kampala prior to the start of the IAAF World Cross Country Championships.
“He also indicated that he will not attend the Council meeting in London.”
