Frank under investigation

Namibian sprint legend Frank Fredericks is being investigated after having been paid nearly N$4 million by a disgraced International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF) official.The international media reported on Friday that Fredericks had received US$299 300 (equivalent to N$3.9 million) from sports businessman Papa Massata Diack, the son of former International Olympics Committee (IOC) member and IAAF president Lamine Diack, in 2009. A French-led investigation is now under way to find out whether large sums were paid to buy the votes that determined the host cities of the 2016 and 2020 Olympics. Rio de Janeiro hosted the 2016 Games, while Tokyo will host the 2020 Games. According to reports, authorities have reportedly discovered large amounts transferred from Brazil and Japan to a company and bank account linked to the Diacks. The younger Diack was banned for life from athletics last year for his part in the Russian doping scandal. Diack senior was also handed a lifetime ban and still being investigated by the French authorities on suspicion of accepting bribes to cover up positive tests in the wake of the Russian doping scandal. The Telegraph reports that US$299 300 was given by Diack to Fredericks through Diack's Pamodzi Sports Consulting firm. The money was reportedly paid to Yemi Limited, a company set up by Fredericks in the Seychelles. In an interview with French newspaper Le Monde, Fredericks defended the payment, saying it had “nothing whatsoever to do with the Olympic Games”. “The amount of US$300 000 paid by Pamodzi Sports Consulting to Yemi Limited was paid pursuant to the terms of a contract dated 11 March 2007,” Fredericks is quoted as saying by Le Monde. “I had the idea to develop a relay championship. In addition I supported the IAAF Marketing Programme, the African Athletics Programme, the IAAF Continental Programme and the African Athletics Championships. “My attendance at various events and promotional efforts are documented and accordingly these services can be substantiated by other evidence. “Payment was in respect of services rendered in the period 2007 to 2011. The payment has nothing whatsoever to do with the Olympic Games. “By the way, I was not an IAAF board member at the time, but an IAAF ambassador, and did not breach any regulation or rule of ethics.” Approached for comment yesterday by Namibian Sun, Fredericks said he was in a meeting. Fredericks chairs the IOC's evaluation commission for the 2024 Games and is expected to visit Los Angeles and the other remaining candidate, Paris, to assess their bids. Meanwhile, the IOC says it has taken note of the serious allegations against Fredericks and that the committee's ethics commission is pursuing the matter. “He [Fredericks] informed the IOC and explained the situation and emphasised his innocence immediately upon being contacted by the journalist,” IOC spokesman Mark Adams is quoted as saying. “The IOC trusts that Mr Fredericks will bring all the elements to prove his innocence against these allegations made by Le Monde.” Fredericks is a respected sprinting great and remains Namibia's only able-bodied athlete to win medal at the Olympic Games. He won four silver medals at the 1992 and 1996 Olympic Games.

Frank under investigation

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Namibian Sun 2026-11-02

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Frank under investigation

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Namibian Sun 2026-11-02

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