By Daily Sports on March 20, 2019
France has issued arrest warrants for two former Russian athletics officials as part of an investigation into a doping cover-up.
Valentin Balakhnichev is a former head of Russian athletics and Alexei Melnikov an ex-Russian national team coach.
Both were banned from athletics for life in 2016 after widespread, state-sponsored Russian doping was uncovered.
Mr Balakhnichev said he believed the arrest warrant to be baseless.
The investigation started in November 2015 when the former International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF) chief, Senagalese businessman Lamine Diack, was charged with accepting millions of dollars to cover up doping by Russian athletes.
In 2017, a warrant was also issued for his son, Papa Massata Diack, accused of involvement in a corruption scheme in international sports.
Sheltering in Senegal, he has been on Interpol’s most wanted list for four years and denies the allegations.
The investigation is French-led as funds are believed to have been laundered in France.
Russia was suspended from the IAAF in 2015 after the doping scandal was uncovered but some Russians have been permitted to compete under a neutral flag if they can prove they have not been involved in doping. (BBC)
•Photo shows Alexei Melnikov
Source Daily Sports
Posted March 20, 2019
You may also like...
CAF ‘C’ License programme enlivens Abuja
Awoniyi Unhappy with AFCON Snub
Eagles Coach: NFF to release shortlist on Friday...
Arsenal Target Emmanuel Dennis Set To Leave Club...
Erling Haaland hits double as Pep Guardiola's side...
Ahead of April’s bout: Joshua hints at retirement...
SWAN Honours Ezeonwuka, 40 Years After Building Rojenny, Nigeria’s First Private Stadium
Man City need to 'step up' as striker's goal run ends
'People are afraid' - why 'juggernaut' Arsenal are team to beat
Aspinall requires further tests on eye injury in UK
Real Madrid impress but Vinicius tension grows - Clasico talking points
Rooney says struggling Liverpool lack leadership
NOC To Host FinalIOC Advanced Sport Management Course Module
4 Teams Lock Horns For N10m Tiger 5-Aside Football Battle In Awka
Nezianya, Odikpo, Balepo, Ndukuba, Chukwuleta For SWAN @60 Veterans’ Awards
Anambra FA Crisis: Igbokwe, 61 Years Old Football Administrator Protests Arrest, Detention
Gala European record thrills Osimhen
La Liga: 'I am enjoying football at Barca', Rashford eyes permanent move
Most Read
Rangers International going, going . . . (63,273 views)
Amaju Pinnick: A cat with nine lives (54,479 views)
Second Term: Amaju Pinnick, Other NFF Heavyweights Home to Roost •How Pinnick Broke the Jinx (52,428 views)
Current issues in Nigerian sports: Matters arising (52,036 views)
Sports Development: Zenith Bank on the zenith (52,015 views)
Missing $150,000 IAAF Grant: Solomon Dalung’s Hide and Seek game (51,988 views)
Gov. Abdullahi Ganduje’s solid footprints, commitment to sports development in Kano State (51,818 views)
NFF Presidency: Pinnick, Maigari, Ogunjobi, Okoye in Battle for Supremacy (51,398 views)
Olopade, BET9A wave of revolution in NNL (50,512 views)
Commonwealth Games 2018: Shame of Muhammadu Buhari, Solomon Dalung (49,052 views)
Ibrahimovic’s Man U exit: Whose decision is it? And in whose interest? (47,491 views)
John Mikel Obi: Segun Odegbami’s Outrageous Call! (46,953 views)