European athletics chief wants Fredericks to step down

BERLIN: The head of European athletics has called on Frankie Fredericks to step down from the world athletics’ (IAAF) federation council pending an investigation into allegations he accepted payments before the awarding of last year’s Olympics to Rio de Janeiro.

A statement issued yesterday by Svein Arne Hansen, who does not name Fredericks but clearly refers to his case, comes a day after IAAF president Sebastian Coe said the Namibian would stay on the council while the ethics board decides if an investigation is necessary.

“In recent weeks the IAAF Council has been confronted with new and disturbing integrity-linked accusations related to one of its members,” Hansen said in his statement.

“In my personal opinion, any individual who finds themselves under such suspicion now or in the future should step aside from all their sport-related duties until the issue is resolved as it is not good for the organisation they serve.”

As well as being in charge of European Athletics, Hansen is an IAAF Council member.

“I want to emphasise that in the current case we are dealing with allegations and must always presume innocence until they are proven,” Hansen added. – Reuters