IAAF to probe top Kenyan official over Nike deal

David Okeyo alleged to have siphoned off funds from a sponsorship deal between the national association and Nike

(Getty Images)

The conduct of a member of the International Amateur Athletics Federation’s ruling council is to be referred to its ethics commission after it was revealed he is the subject of a police investigation in his native Kenya.

David Okeyo, a vice-president of Athletics Kenya (AK) and a member of the IAAF council, is alleged to have siphoned off funds from a sponsorship deal between the national association and sportswear firm Nike.

While Okeyo denies any wrongdoing, the investigation heaps further embarrassment on the IAAF.

On Friday the governing body provisionally suspended Russia from all competition after a report commissioned by the World Anti-Doping Agency (Wada) alleged the country had been involved in state-sponsored doping.

Former IAAF president Lamine Diack, his son Papa Massata Diack, adviser Habib Cisse and the world governing body’s former anti-doping chief Gabriel Dollé are all being investigated by French police over allegations they were complicit in covering up Russian doping.

A statement issued by the IAAF on Okeyo read: “The IAAF was not aware of the investigation into Mr Okeyo in Kenya and the information has immediately been passed on to the independent IAAF ethics commission. As part of the root and branch governance reform project that [IAAF president] Sebastian Coe has announced, there will be new processes introduced to ensure all persons appointed to IAAF commissions and advisory groups in the future have been duly vetted and declared as ‘fit and proper persons’ to hold office.

“Over 200 people were due to be appointed to new commissions and advisory groups at the council meeting at the end of this month but their appointment will now be delayed until the new procedures are in place.”

A spokesman for Nike said the firm had acted with “integrity” in its dealings with AK and that the “expectation and understanding” of the sponsorship deal was that the funds would be “used to support and service the teams and athletes”.

Meanwhile, the acting head of Russia’s Athletics Federation (RAF) claimed yesterday the IAAF was punishing Russia to divert attention from its own failings.

Wada’s allegations could cost Russia its place at next year’s Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro, but Vadim Zelichenok said: “We understand that the publication of the second part of the Wada report will deal a serious blow to the IAAF. This partially explains such a tough decision with regard to Russia’s Athletics Federation. It was intended to divert the blow from themselves.”