World Athletics corruption trial begins

World Athletics corruption trial begins

Lamine Diack, the former head of athletics’ governing body, arrived in court in Paris on Monday to stand trial on charges of corruption, money laundering and breach of trust linked to a Russian doping scandal.

Francis Maguire reports.

The corruption trial for the former head of the World Athletics organization has begun in Paris.

Lamine Diack, who ran the body from 1999 to 2015, faces charges of corruption, money laundering and breach of trust linked to a Russian doping scandal.

Prosecutors alleged he solicited $3.9 million from athletes suspected of doping, in order to cover up the allegations and allow them to compete at the London 2012 Olympics.

The World Athletics organization is the international governing body for track and field sports.

Diack, who is from Senegal, turned 87 on Sunday (June 7) and lives under house arrest in Paris.

He's previously denied any wrongdoing and his lawyers say the accusations are baseless.

He faces up to ten years in prison if convicted.

Senegal has refused to extradite his son, Papa Massata Diack, who worked as a marketing consultant for the athletic organization.

He will be tried in absentia.

Papa Massata had tried to get the trial delayed, but the French court denied his request on Monday.

His French lawyer says that Senegalese members of the defense team have not been able to participate due to travel restrictions.

There are four other defendants in the case - part of what investigators at the French prosecutors describe as a web of corruption at World Athletics.