Sebastian Coe ‘shocked and angry’ at IAAF doping bribery scandal

IAAF president Sebastian Coe on Sunday expressed his “shock, anger and sadness” at allegations of high-level bribery to cover up doping in track and field.

“I’m shocked, angry and largely saddened,” Coe said, adding that the allegations that surfaced on Monday had come as a complete surprise.

“The allegations that we woke up to around the potential for extortion and blackmail came out of the blue and the vast majority in the sport probably share exactly the same emotions I’ve just expressed. It’s shock, anger and sadness.”

Lamine Diack, from whom Coe took over the mantle of IAAF president in August, was on Wednesday charged by French police with corruption over suspicions he took bribes worth more than one million euros ($1.09 million) to cover up doping cases involving Russian athletes.

The IAAF have also opened disciplinary proceedings against one of Diack’s sons and three others including their own former treasurer and ex-doping chief.

Asked whether he had been in touch with Diack, the 82-year-old Senegalese who he had praised as the “spiritual leader” of the IAAF when he won the election to succeed him, Coe replied: “No.”

Coe added: “I’m determined more than ever that we will drive the review that I started the day after I became elected. Through the IAAF, we will drive those and accelerate them even harder.”