IAAF accused of suppressing survey by newspaper, broadcaster

LONDON: World athletics’ governing body (IAAF) have suppressed a 2011 survey that reveals that up to a third of the world’s top competitors admitted using banned performanceenhancing techniques, Britain’s Sunday Times newspaper and German broadcasters ARD/ WDR reported.

The authors of the study, which involved interviews with 1 800 athletes at the 2011 World Championships in South Korea, were told to sign a confidentiality agreement a month after the information had been collected and analysed, the newspaper said.

The revelations are the latest in a series of damaging blows for the sport in the countdown to the start of this year’s World Championships in Beijing on Saturday.

Earlier investigations by ARD and the Sunday Times prompted claims that more than 800 athletes tested between 2001 and 2012 had suspicious test results that were not followed up by the IAAF.

The IAAF have since initiated disciplinary action against 28 athletes after re-testing samples from the 2005 and 2007 World Championships with new technology that can uncover previously undetectable substances. The organisation came under heavy fire from the authors of the 2011 study, which was conducted by researchers at the University of Tuebingen in Germany.

“The IAAF’s delaying publication for so long without good reason is a serious encroachment on the freedom of publication,” a statement from the researchers said.

The statement added that the IAAF had not commissioned the survey but had used their influence to suppress the findings.

Reacting to the latest accusations in a statement, the IAAF said they “had never vetoed” publication of the survey and understood it had twice been rejected for publication in a scientific journal.

They also questioned the validity of the research. “The IAAF do however have serious reservations as to the interpretation of the results made by the research group as confirmed by high-profile experts in social science who reviewed the publication on our request.

“The IAAF submitted those concerns to the research group but have never heard back from them.”

The study was financed by WADA, which told the newspaper on Friday that they had given the IAAF the power to veto publication in return for allowing access to the athletes at the 2011 World Championships. – Reuters