IAAF's Davies steps aside to allow ethics investigation

The IAAF’s Deputy General Secretary, Nick Davies confirmed on Tuesday that he would step aside from his role pending an investigation into a plot to delay the naming of Russian drug cheats.

On Monday, a leaked email sent by the official, Nick Davies, to Papa Massata Diack, the son of former IAAF president Lamine Diack and a former IAAF marketing consultant, discussed a special dossier that could be prepared to limit the impact of a series of positive tests by Russian athletes.

Both Diacks are under investigation over corruption offences, while Russian athletes are currently banned from the sport following revelations of widespread state-sponsored doping.

Nick Davies statement pic.twitter.com/t6c0tbxRuc

— Paul Kelso (@pkelso) December 22, 2015

The report also criticised the governing body for its laissez-faire attitude to the problem. Though the extent of Russian doping is now out in the open, the IAAF were seemingly fighting to keep a lid on it two years ago.

The email which was sent in July 2013, a month before the Moscow world championships, also suggested that CSM, the sports marketing firm chaired by IAAF president Sebastian Coe (then a vice-president), could be used as part of an “unofficial PR campaign” to fend off negative stories in the British media.

It also said the IAAF could benefit from Coe’s political influence in Britain to minimise the damage any revelations might cause.

Davies, who now works as Coe’s chief of staff, issued a statement on Monday denying any wrong-doing, but has now decided to step aside in order to allow the committee to complete their investigation.