Unit’s fight to ‘drive cheats out’

THE Athletics Integrity Unit (AIU) oversees all aspects of anti-doping and other integrity issues of internationallevel athletes and their support staff. It has responsibility to “combat any and all forms of corruption and ethical misconduct within athletics”.

The unit, based in Monaco, implements the International Association of Athletics Federation (IAAF)’S Anti-doping Rules, the most recent edition of which was published on April 3 2017, as well as the Integrity Code of Conduct.

The AIU also monitors competition results manipulation, fraudulent behaviour and other misconduct such as bribery.

It replaced the IAAF’S former antidoping department in April 2017 and is “fully separated” from the federation.

The unit states that its role is to “drive cheats out of our sport” by carrying out testing on athletes and investigating violations of the integrity code, as well as conducting education programmes, monitoring code compliance and prosecuting disciplinary cases.

The chairman of the AIU’S board is David Howman, the former director general of the World Anti-doping Agency, and the body’s head is Brett Clothier, who established and led the Australian Football League’s Integrity Unit for eight years.

If their investigations find evidence of wrongdoing the case will be handed over to the Independent Disciplinary Tribunal, headed by Michael Beloff QC, which replaced the IAAF Ethics Board earlier this year.

The tribunal has the power to impose sanctions, including a lifetime ban, and a fine of any amount.