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Former Russian athletics chief denounces IAAF life ban

Xinhua, January 8, 2016 Adjust font size:

Former President of the All-Russia Athletic Federation (ARAF) Valentin Balakhnichev on Thursday accused the International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF) of the decision over his life ban.

Balakhnichev was banned "for life from any further involvement in any way in the sport of track and field," according to the IAAF statement posted online earlier the day.

Balakhnichev, who is also the former IAAF treasurer, criticized the IAAF decision as politicized.

"It is totally groundless, politicized in its nature, directed against a Russian citizen in the given situation," RIA Novosti news agency quoted Balakhnichev as saying.

Expressing his complete disagreement, Balakhnichev said the decision contains many contradictions and he has consulted his lawyer over a possible appeal.

Nevertheless, Russian Sports Minister Vitaly Mutko on Thursday said the IAAF's decision was expected and "there is no sense to appeal."

The IAAF Ethics Commission accused Balakhnichev of breaching IAAF code of ethics, with charges of extortion and bribery and a fine of 25,000 U.S. dollars imposed on the former Russian athletics chief.

Balakhnichev left the post of the ARAF president in February 2015 amid the unfolding doping scandal involving accusations by the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) against the Russian sports governing body.

The WADA on Thursday expressed support to IAAF's decision, noting that its independent commission will publish on Jan. 14 the second part of its report into allegations of widespread doping in athletics.

"There is also a pending criminal investigation underway in France," the WADA said in a statement.

In December of 2014, a documentary released by German television network ARD accused Russia of widespread doping and cover-ups in the sport, while IAAF and WADA have launched investigations into the claims.

The first report of WADA was released in last November, which sent shockwaves through track and field with accusations of state-sponsored doping in Russia and allegations of corruption at the highest levels of the IAAF. Endit