Former Namibian sprinter and four-time Olympic silver medal winner Frankie Fredericks has resigned from his positions in the International Association of Athletics Federation (IAAF).
Fredericks, an IAAF counci member, resigned from his position as head of the International Olympic Committee (IOC) Evaluation Commission for the 2024 Games, according to the BBC. He also stepped down from a taskforce overseeing Russia’s return to international competitions after the country was rocked by a state-sponsored doping scandal.
Frankie’s decision to quit the athletic committees follows a recent report in the French paper Le Monde, alleging that the athlete had received a large cash payment in 2009 to influence voting on the host city for the 2016 Olympic Games. Fredericks has denied the allegations.
Announcing his decision to quit the athletic committees, Fredericks said in a statement that he was quitting his position to allow investigations to commence.
“I have decided to step aside from the taskforce so that the integrity of its work is not questioned due to the allegations made against me in Le Monde.
“It is important that the taskforce’s mission is seen as free and fair with no outside influence,” he said.
Fredericks’ former position as the head of the IOC Evaluation Commission put him in charge of the Olympic delegation inspecting candidate cities, such as Los Angeles and Paris, vying to host the 2024 Games.
Fredericks is one of the most successful sprinters from southern Africa. He is Namibia’s first and only Olympic medalist, winning his first Olympic medal in 1992 at the Barcelona Games and competing for his country of birth Namibia in the 200m and 100m events.
Watch Fredricks compete here:
Fredericks retired in 2004 and became the head of the Namibia Athletics Association in 2009. In 2012, he was elected as a member of the IOC.
An IAAF spokesperson says Fredericks’ place on the five-person IOC taskforce will be replaced by IAAF Athletes’ Commission Chairperson Rozle Prezelj.
Deion Sanders is a retired American professional football and baseball player who currently coaches at…
Tiger Woods is set to receive $100 million from PGA Tour Enterprises for his loyalty,…
Jalen Hurts, the Philadelphia Eagles' quarterback, has shown his affection for the community by contributing…
It appears Shaquille O'Neal is willing to go all the way out to pamper his…
A U.S. Army Major faces up to 240 months in prison after he was found…
In her first interview about her conviction in Russia on drug smuggling charges, WNBA star…
The beloved host of This Morning, Alison Hammond, is making headlines by selling off her…
Two high school students in Grand Rapids, Michigan, have earned a place in history. The…
Derek Floyd, a 36-year-old Fire Department of New York probationary fireman, died of a heart…
A 4-year-old boy fighting end-stage kidney disease lived out his dream as a cop for…
Director Abshir Rageh oversees film production at Astaan, a privately held cable television network in…
Nigerians are eagerly awaiting to welcome their "daughter" Meghan Markle's royal visit next month alongside…
Othello Larenzo Holmes has been charged with attempted indecent assault and faces five counts of…
Dylan Beard is a Howard University graduate who is currently working at a Walmart deli.…
Boxing legend Mike Tyson is not taking any chances as he prepares for his July…