Ex-IAAF chief Diack faces new charges in France: Inquiry source

A file photo taken on on Aug 14, 2009 shows Athletics' world ruling body IAAF then President Lamine Diack at a joint press conference with the International Olympic Committee in Berlin on the sideline of the 2009 IAAF Athletics World Championships. PHOTO: AFP

PARIS (AFP) - French investigators on Monday (Dec 21) hit former International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF) president Lamine Diack with new corruption charges linked to doping cover-ups in world athletics, a source close to the inquiry told AFP.

The Senegalese is suspected of turning a blind eye to doping cases, notably involving Russian athletes, in exchange for money.

Investigators also suspect him of making cash payments totalling 140,000 euros (S$215,000) to Gabriel Dolle, a doctor for the IAAF until last year who has also been charged with corruption, the source said.

Diack, 82, denies making the payments.

It is these suspicions that led to the new charges being laid against Diack, who was seen by an AFP reporter at the High Court in Paris on Monday accompanied by his lawyers.

He has already been charged with corruption, money laundering and conspiracy along with his legal advisor Habib Cisse and Dolle.

Diack's lawyer Daouda Diop did not respond to AFP's attempts to contact him, while another of his representatives, Alexandre Varraut, refused to comment.

Following his arrest in November, Diack resigned from his position on the International Olympic Committee (IOC), where he had served as an honorary member.

The Senegalese national served as head of the International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF) for 16 years until August, when he was succeeded by Sebastian Coe.

Last month, Russia was provisionally suspended from track and field over accusations of "state-sponsored" doping as the IAAF scrambled to salvage the sport's credibility just nine months out from the Rio de Janeiro Olympics.

Just last week, Diack denied accusations in French newspaper Le Monde that he had received a donation from Russia of 1.5 million euros to help fund Senegal president Macky Sall's election campaign in 2012.

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