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Sebastian Coe has promised that the
investigation into allegations of systematic doping in Russia will be
completely independent (Photo: PA)
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Doping is rife and has destroyed the credibility of athletics! You would have to be incredibly
naïve, in outright denial or a doper/doping supporter to believe in 'clean' sport any more. Sure there are
many hardworking athletes who keep their noses from doping, but it appears they
are in the shrinking minority. It appears as long as you are not caught then
you get away with - stolen victories! The scandals keep tumbling in.
Sebastian Coe claims athletics'
reputation is being disproportionately damaged by doping cases involving a
small number of countries and has promised that the investigation into
allegations of systematic doping in Russia will be completely independent.
A programme by German ARD-TV has
alleged that doping and corruption extended beyond Russia and implicated the
sport's world governing body the IAAF in covering up the problem.
The French sports daily L'Equipe has
also raised questions about meetings in Moscow hotels in 2011 between Valentin
Balakhnichev, the president of the Russian athletics federation and an IAAF
council member, a legal adviser to the IAAF named Habib Cisse and Massata Papa
Diack - the son of Lamine Diack, president of the IAAF.
Lord Coe, an IAAF vice-president,
insisted Lamine Diack was fully behind the investigation but admitted the
latest allegations made it a difficult time for athletics.
Speaking at the IOC session in
Monaco, Coe said: "You have to say that the scope and scale of these
allegations takes it beyond simply a competitor deciding to step beyond the
moral boundary.
"This is not in every country
of the world - there are 213 federations. But you do have to say a
disproportionate amount of the reputational damage is in a relatively small
number of countries, and I think we have to recognise this.
"They are very serious
allegations. The very fact that the allegations are in the public domain means
that they are serious. So, we have to be very clear that this is a very, very
difficult time for our sport."
Coe, who is standing in next
August's election to succeed Diack as president, said the latest transcripts of
the programme have now been sent to the IAAF Council, the body's ethics
committee, to the IOC and the World Anti-Doping Agency.
Asked if the allegations against
Diack's son made it difficult for the IAAF president, Coe added: "No I
think Lamine is very clear, he will wait for the investigation and if names are
in the fray then those names will be subject to that investigation.
"He's certainly not curtailing
the work of the ethics committee nor could you - it's Michael Beloff, one of
the top QCs in the world."
Coe indicated he would be in favour
of publishing the ethics committee's investigation, and confirmed that IAAF
rules would allow Russia to be declared non-compliant if the allegations are
judged to be proved.
He added: "We do have a
category, a status which we refer to as in good standing. A good standing is
not just about paying your subs on time or being free from political
interference. We have had suspensions in federations for all sorts of reasons
because, for one reason or another, the council have decided that that
federation is not in good standing. Let's just see where these reports take us."
Coe said the allegations highlighted
the need - which are part of his manifesto - for the IAAF's anti-doping system
to be completely independent in terms of testing and sanctions. The double
Olympic 1,500metres champion compiled a report for the British government in
the 1980s which led to the first random testing of athletes out of competition.
He added: "This is the time to
really push for a wholly independent arm to our testing procedures.
"Clearly, there are resource implications.
But I know that in the UK in the 80s, that actually made a massive difference.
I think this is the moment."
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