The Courier & Advertiser (Perth and Perthshire Edition)
Fredericks steps aside fromtaskforce
Namibian former sprinter Frankie Fredericks has stepped aside from an International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF) taskforce following a newspaper report he received a large payment from disgraced Papa Massata Diack.
Fredericks has been replaced by Slovenian ex-high jumper Rozle Prezelj in the taskforce, which is coordinating Russia’s readmittance process following its suspension.
The International Olympic Committee last week vowed to investigate fresh allegations of suspicious payments involving the son of former world athletics chief Lamine Diack around the time of the announcement of Rio’s success in winning the 2016 Games, in March 2009.
French newspaper Le Monde claimed a company owned by Papa Massata Diack was paid $1.5 million by a Brazilian businessman three days before the announcement in Copenhagen, while a further $500,000 was transferred to a bank account linked to Diack in Russia.
The newspaper also alleges almost $300,000 was transferred from Diack Jr’s company to one linked to Fredericks, who is chairman of the 2024 evaluation commission, on the same day as the Copenhagen announcement.
Fredericks has denied any wrongdoing.
Lamine Diack, who was IAAF president from 1999 to 2015, is currently in custody in France where he is facing charges of money-laundering and corruption, while Papa Massata Diack is wanted by Interpol.
“I have decided to step aside from the taskforce so that the integrity of its work is not questioned due to the allegations made against me in Le Monde,” the 49-year-old said.
IAAF president Lord Coe said: “The IAAF taskforce’s work is of utmost importance in rebuilding confidence in Russia, whose national system has failed the aspirations of clean athletes and the integrity of competition.
“Their coordination with RusAF and the monitoring of its acceptance of and adherence to the verification criteria and reinstatement conditions is crucial as we work to return athletes to international competition in a safe environment for all.”