Doping and Corruption: CAA protests Diack’s arrest

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Confederation of African Athletics has stated that Lamine Diack has been targeted negatively in the doping and corruption scandals rocking the world governing body IAAF.

The CAA led by Cameroon born Kalkaba Malboum said Diack the former IAAF president has been condemned even without trial.

“For some days, the African athletics family is living some particularly difficult moments due to allegations against some of its members, mainly President Lamine Diack, as part of an investigation led by the Independent Commission of World Anti-Doping Agency,’ CAA President Kalkaba Malboum said in a statement yesterday.

French police are investigating son of Diack and the former head of its anti-doping department, amid the corruption crisis engulfing international athletics. Papa Massata Diack, Valentin Balakhnichev, Alexei Melnikov, and Gabriel Dolle have been charged with various alleged breaches of the IAAF code of ethics.

“Without judging on the ongoing investigation — all people who are mentioned in this matter fully benefit from the presumption of innocence. It is our duty to talk to you and to all the family members whom I call to unity, peace and serenity especially in this difficult moment,” said Malboum.

“Despite this turbulence aiming at Africa, we still show our loyalty, our affection and our full support to President Lamine Diack who has devoted himself, soul and body for decades to serve this discipline both on continental and world levels,” said Malboum.

Kenya’s IAAF Council Member David Okeyo is also being investigated by Kenya Anti-Fraud Unit and Criminal Investigation Department for his role in signing up new Nike deal that saw the American sports firm pay up 500,000 U.S. dollars as a sign up fees for the official to use. Nike signed a deal with Kenya, lasting 10 years up to 2022.

Source: Vanguard