European athletics chief wants Fredericks to quit

BERLIN: The head of European athletics has called on Frank Fredericks to step down from the world athletics’ (IAAF) federation council pending an investigation into allegations he accepted payments before the awarding of the 2016 Olympics to Rio de Janeiro.

A statement issued on Wednesday by Svein Arne Hansen, who does not name Fredericks but clearly refers to his case, comes a day after IAAF president Sebastian Coe said Fredricks would stay on the council while the ethics board decides if an investigation is necessary.

“In recent weeks the IAAF Council has been confronted with new and disturbing integrity-linked accusations related to one of its members,” Hansen said in his statement on Wednesday.

“In my personal opinion, any individual who finds themselves under such suspicion now or in the future should step aside from all their sport-related duties until the issue is resolved as it is not good for the organisation they serve,” Hansen added.

Fredericks, an International Olympic Committee member, stepped down two weeks ago as head of the IOC team evaluating bids to host the 2024 Games.

French newspaper Le Monde had reported that Fredericks received almost $300,000 from Papa Massata Diack, the son of disgraced former IAAF President Lamine Diack, prior to the election of Rio as the 2016 Olympics hosts back in 2009.