The investigation into the International Association of Athletics Federation’s (IAAF) malfeasance has just been stepped up to a new level. French police are asking anyone to come forward if they have been extorted against after claims by athletes from Morocco, Turkey and Russia paid bribes in return for covering-up positive doping results.
See below from Insidethegames:
A French police investigation was opened against former IAAF President Lamine Diack in November, for allegedly running a cover-up scheme involving Russians.
His son, former IAAF consultant Papa Massata Diack, as well as ex-IAAF treasurer and All-Russia Athletic Federation (ARAF) President Valentin Balakhnichev and long distance running and race-walking coach Alexei Melnikov, were all handed life-bans from the sport this week by the IAAF Ethics Commission.
They were found “guilty of blackmail” since 2011 in relation to doping cover-ups, it was concluded.
The claims against Morocco and Turkey were based on correspondence sent to the IAAF by the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA), whose President Sir Craig Reedie was told by figures from the Russian Sports Ministry based on testimonies initially given by Balakhnichev.
A system of extortion was in place “not only in Russia, but, potentially, in other countries such as Morocco and Turkey”, they said.
It has been widely reported that Turkey’s Asli Çakır Alptekin, who won the London 2012 Olympic 1500 metres title before being disqualified following a second doping failure, is involved.
“Extorting money from anyone is a crime,” an IAAF spokesperson told insidethegames today.
