IAAF Bans Four Officials Over Russian Doping Bribery Scandal

The International Association of Athletics Federation’s (IAAF) Ethics Committee has banned four senior officials who were charged with breaching anti-doping rules in relation to Russian athlete Liliya Shobukhova.

Among the men banned is former IAAF president Lamine Diack’s son, Papa Massata Diack, who has received a lifetime ban from the sport along with Russian officials Valentin Balakhnichev and Alexei Melnikov.

Th other official in question, Ex-IAAF anti-doping director Gabriel Dolle, has been given a five-year ban.

The investigation began in April 2014 after a referral of a complaint to the Ethics Board by a member of the IAAF staff.

In the the IAAF’s ethics commission’s findings it states: “The head of a national federation, the senior coach of a major national team and a marketing consultant for the IAAF conspired together (and, it may yet be proven with others too) to conceal for more than three years anti-doping violations by an athlete at what appeared to be the highest pinnacle of her sport.

“All three compounded the vice of what they did by conspiring to extort what were in substance bribes from Liliya Shobukhova by acts of blackmail.

“They acted dishonestly and corruptly and did unprecedented damage to the sport of track and field which, by their actions, they have brought into serious disrepute.”

A statement released by the IAAF said: “The IAAF is angered to see that individuals have in the panel’s finding “conspired to extort what were in substance bribes from the athlete by acts of blackmail.”

“Ultimately, the Department was able to ensure that the athlete concerned received a lengthy ban, but the four individuals’ activities delayed that outcome. The IAAF has already introduced corrective measures to make sure this sort of interference can’t happen again.”

IAAF president Seb Coe added: “The life bans announced today could not send a stronger message that those who attempt to corrupt or subvert the sport of athletics will be brought to justice. We continue to work with the French authorities’ investigation and the WADA’s Independent Commission.”

The IAAF has banned Russia from international athletics competitions after a report by the World Anti-Doping Agency’s (WADA) independent found “state-sponsored” doping violations in Russia.

Dick Pound, who has been heading up the investigation, is scheduled to reveal the second part of his findings on 14 January. 

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