Lamine Diack trial faces delay in Paris

The trial of former IAAF president Lamine Diack on charges of corruption and money-laundering relating to the 2015 Russian doping scandal, which was due to start today in Paris, has been delayed, probably until June. BBC reporter Dan Roan tweeted this morning that both sides are being given time to review new documents concerning testimony given by Diack’s son, Papa Massata Diack (who is also charged), in Senegal.

Confirmed: Diack trial delayed until June after new documents were submitted to the court concerning testimony that his son and co-defendant Papa Massata Diack gave in Senegal in November. Parties have been given time to review the documents

— Dan Roan (@danroan) January 13, 2020

The younger Diack had appeared before a judge in Senegal in November, but speculation that he might be extradited to France in time for today’s trial proved to be false.

The tweet contained video of the elder Diack arriving at court in Paris, where he has been living under house arrest since 2015, and leaving amid crowds of onlookers and reporters.

Dr. Gabriel Dollé, former head of the IAAF’s medical and anti-doping department, is also charged. Dollé is suspected of taking approximately €200,000 in bribes from the Russian federation to hide positive Russian drug tests. Diack is estimated to have accepted €1 million, which he is believed to have used to influence the results of elections in Senegal. 

Managed to grab a quick word with Diack as he left court. Expressed his frustration at the delay having been under house arrest here in Paris since late 2015. pic.twitter.com/Qq5yOnOgpq

— Dan Roan (@danroan) January 13, 2020

RELATED: Papa Massata Diack, son of former IAAF president Lamine Diack, faces judge in Senegal

Roan also reports that Diack asked the court to be allowed to go home to Senegal to be with his son and his aging brother, but was denied.

Diack, who is 86, served as IAAF (now World Athletics) president for 16 years. He was succeeded by Sebastian Coe in 2015.