7th June, 2020
By Xinhua/NAN
The trial of Lamine Diack, the former president of the International Association of Athletics Federations, now World Athletics, will begin on Monday.
But his son Papa Massata Diack, charged with him, will not be in the dock as Senegal, his country has refused to extradite him.
Lamine Diack is facing a potential 10-year sentence on charges of accepting millions of dollars to cover up Russian doping tests.
The 87-year-old Senegalese was charged with “giving and receiving bribes,” “breach of trust” and “organized money laundering” for obtaining 1.5 million dollars to cover up doping cases of 23 Russians.
The charge says the bribe made him to allow the Russians to compete at the 2012 London Olympics and the 2013 World Athletics Championships in Moscow.
Diack was in charge of the world athletics governing body between 1999 and 2015.
He has been under investigation since 2016.
He faces a maximum sentence of 10 years in prison and a heavy fine.
Diack’s former legal advisor and former IAAF anti-doping chief will also appear in court.
Papa Massata Diack, son of Lamine Diack, was accused of playing a “central role” in the network of corruption.
He was implicated through the payment of 450 thousand euros from Russian runner Liliya Shobukhova, allegedly to have her blood passport case delayed to compete in the 2012 Olympic marathon.
This was revealed by German TV station ARD in 2014.
Papa Massata refused to leave Senegal despite two international arrest warrants issued by France.
The Senegalese authorities said they will not extradite him.
The case is due to run for six days.
It was postponed in January because of procedural problems.