London: Papa Massata Diack, son of the former International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF) president Lamine Diack, has denied any involvement in bribery cases in doping tests.
Papa Diack, ex-IAAF marketing consultant, is accused by the French courts of involvement in an alleged corruption scheme designed to cover up the positive tests of Russian athletes in exchange for money, reports Efe.
He told BBC on Tuesday that there was no financial extortion for any athlete, adding that he never met with any athlete, agent, or person in the world to ask for a payment.
Papa Diack pointed out that he is dealing with municipal governments and Olympic committees, but never with athletes.
Along with Papa Diack, other figures accused of violating the ethical rules of IAAF, include former IAAF anti-doping chief Gabriel Dolle, Russia’s athletics federation president Valentin Balakhnichev and coach Alexei Melnikov.
Papa Diack also defended his father, who is the focus of a police investigation amid allegations he took money to cover up positive drugs tests by Russian athletes.
“He’s never been involved in any corrupt system to extort money from athletes; I totally reject that,” said Papa Diack in reference to his father.
