French prosecutors investigate Eugene World Championships award
By Lyall Thomas
Last Updated: 11/12/15 9:35am
French prosecutors are investigating the IAAF's decision to award the 2021 Athletics World Championships to the US city of Eugene.
As part of a wide-ranging probe into the sport's governing body, prosecutors are looking into the fact that there was no formal bidding process for the decision.
A spokesperson for French financial prosecutors said: "At this point, no conclusions can be drawn. We considered that there are elements that merit being checked out."
IAAF president Lord Sebastian Coe said recently that the decision was made after a presentation by his predecessor, Lamine Diack, who said that certain financial and commercial opportunities had arisen that meant Eugene should be awarded the rights without contest.
The IAAF Council voted 23-1 in favour of the Oregon city, known as Track Town USA, with one abstention, and the decision came much to the surprise of the Swedish city of Gothenburg, which was in the process of preparing to present its own case.
Diack is already under investigation in France for alleged corruption in relation to athletes doping, and other IAAF officials are also being questioned by French police and Interpol following an explosive report from the World Anti Doping Agency. The report recently resulted in the indefinite suspension of Russia from all athletics competition after it found a "deeply rooted culture of cheating at all levels".
Lord Coe has also stepped down as an ambassador for sportswear giant Nike, which was launched as a company in Eugene in the 1960s.
The organisers of the Eugene event said in a statement they had not been been contacted regarding any potential inquiry into the decision but would cooperate fully should that happen.
"The Eugene proposal ... adhered to all ethical and legal standards for organizing, presenting and advocating for our bid, according to IAAF rules," it said.
"We are proud of the bid on its merits and strongly believe that the quality and merits of the bid were ultimately the driving factor in the council's decision on 2021."
