Former chief of IAAF Lamin Diack is set to be tried in Paris on Monday for alleged crime of corruption and money laundering related to a Russian doping scandal.
Diack faces trial on account of alleged 3.5 million euros bribe from athletes. The athletes are thought to have bribed their way towards participation at athletics competitions, especially 2012 London Olympics in England.
The 87 years old has quashed involvement in the accusations. His counsels haver insisted the accusations are unfounded.
The Senegalese headed the athletics federation- IAFF, now known as World Athletics, between 1999-2005 and bossed the sporting world during his reign. He now endures a house arrest in Paris could face up to 10 years incarceration.
Fresh documents presented to the court from his son and co-defendant, Papa Massata Diack revealing new facts and evidence preempted the commencement of the trial in January.
Extradition of Papa Massata who served as the marketing consultant of the IAFF has been denied by the government of Senegal. He will be tried in absentia for money laundry, corruption and breach of trust.
Equally accused are Habib Cisse, Diack’s former lawyer at the IAAF; Gabriel Dolle, who headed doping tests at the IAAF; and Russians Valentin Balakhnitchev and Alexei Melnikov, who were Russia’s athletics’ federation chief and head athletics coach respectively at the time of the alleged cover-up.
Source: Independent