Fredericks begs innocence

Fredericks begs innocence Sprint legend Frank Fredericks says he will give his full cooperation to an investigation into reports that he was paid nearly N$4 million by a disgraced International Association of Athletics Federation (IAAF) official.

International media broke the news on Friday that Fredericks had received US$299 300 (equivalent to N$3.9 million) from sports businessman Papa Massata Diack, the son of the International Olympic Committee (IOC) member and IAAF president Lamine Diack, in 2009.

In a statement issued by Fredericks yesterday, he denied any direct or indirect involvement in any untoward conduct. He said he had never breached any law, regulation or rule of ethics in respect of any IOC election process.

“The fact is that I made a statement to the [IOC Ethics] Commission and will continue to give my full cooperation to a proper investigation of these reports and then await the outcome of this independent process.

“It is of course in my highest interests to clear myself of the negative insinuations against me and my role within the IOC as soon as possible in order to prevent any further damage to my reputation and that of the IOC,” he said.

Fredericks said the article did not only target him but the integrity of the IOC bidding and elections process for host cities too.

“Of course all election processes should be seen to be free and fair, this is why I have been and am still actively cooperating with the IOC Ethics Commission in order for them to conduct a proper and independent investigation,” he said.

He said he believed in the integrity of the IOC election processes and never noticed anything untoward to make him doubt that.

“I reiterate that I was never involved with any vote manipulation or, for that matter, any other inappropriate or illegal practice,” he stated.

Meanwhile, Fredericks has decided to step aside as the chairperson of the 2024 Evaluation Commission deciding on the next Olympic host city.

“I have decided that it is in the best interests of a good functioning of the International Olympic Committee candidature process that I step aside as chairperson of the 2024 Evaluation Commission, because it is essential that the important work my colleagues are doing is seen as being carried out in a truthful and fair manner,” he said.

He said Paris and Los Angeles were presenting two “fantastic candidatures” and he did not wish to become a distraction from the great contest.

“I will not attend the IOC city meetings in July and will not participate during the vote for the 2024 city. I also temporarily step aside as the chair of the 2018 Youth Olympic Games coordination.”

In an interview with French newspaper Le Monde, he defended the payment from Diack, saying it had “nothing whatsoever to do with the Olympic Games”.

He said the payment was in respect of services rendered in the period 2007 to 2011.

SPORT REPORTER