Report: French investigating IAAF for 2021 World Championships
French investigators are looking into the International Association of Athletics Federation's conclusion to award the 2021 track and field world championships to Eugene, Ore., according to BBC's Mark Daly and Calum McKay.
Eugene's Hayward Field was awarded the 2021 outdoor track and field championships in April, not long after losing the bidding for the 2019 world championships to Doha.
The IAAF council decided to bypass the usual bidding process and awarded the 2021 edition to Eugene, which came as a surprise to other bidding cities. A bidding process did not take place when Osaka, Japan was awarded the 2007 world championships.
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Eugene is not too far from Nike's headquarters in Beaverton, Ore. Last month, IAAF President Seb Coe severed his ties with the sportswear company after more than 30 years as a paid ambassador. The decision to drop his sponsorship came just days after BBC reported that Coe discussed Eugene's bidding for the 2021 world championships in an email exchange by Nike officials. Coe discussed the emails and his relationship with Nike with British parliament.
TrackTown USA president Vin Lananna reportedly made a visit to Coe’s predecessor Lamine Diack after the email exchange, according to BBC.
French officials are also looking into corruption allegations regarding Diack. The former IAAF president is accused of accepting bribes to cover up positive doping tests.
The IAAF is also being investigated by WADA for their handling of knowledge regarding systemic doping in Russia and whether corruption took place.
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The IAAF's ethics commission will meet next week to discuss allegations regarding Diack's son Papa Massata Diack, who has been accused of violating the federation's code of conduct.
- Christopher Chavez
