By Rob Harris / The Associated Press
LONDON—Food and beverage giant Nestlé told the International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF) on Wednesday that it terminated its sponsorship of athletics’ governing body over fears the doping scandal could damage the company’s image.
The announcement came, while adidas remains in talks with the IAAF about its handling of the corruption scandal amid reports the sportswear giant was considering ending its sponsorship.
The IAAF, under Sebastian Coe’s new leadership, is fighting attempts by sponsors to cut their contracts early.
Coe said he was “angered and dismayed” by the Nestlé announcement.
“We will not accept it,” he said in a statement. “It’s the kids who will suffer.”
Nestlé funded the kids’ athletics program for four years, but decided to end the partnership “with immediate effect.”
“This decision was taken in light of negative publicity associated with allegations of corruption and doping in sport made against the IAAF,” Nestlé said in a statement. “We believe this could negatively impact our reputation and image and will, therefore, terminate our existing agreement with the IAAF, established in 2012.”
The IAAF, incensed by the Nestlé announcement, was determined to hold the company to the final year of its contract. Rather than accepting the sponsor’s decision, the IAAF said it remained “in discussion with Nestlé concerning the final year of its five-year partnership.”
“This has been a successful program with 15 million kids aged 7 to 12 in 76 countries, taking part in fun team activities which promotes a healthy, active lifestyle,” the IAAF said.
The program was due to reach another 15 countries, involving another 3 million children, training 360 lecturers and 8,640 physical education teachers, the IAAF added.
The Nestlé decision was a blow to Coe, whose first six months as IAAF president have been blighted by the extent of the corruption under predecessor Lamine Diack being exposed.
A World Anti-Doping Agency (Wada) investigation found there was deeply rooted corruption on the inside by a “powerful rogue group” led by Diack, and they conspired to extort athletes and allow doping Russians to continue competing.
Alleged bribery in Kenya
TWO Kenyan athletes serving four-year bans for doping at the 2015 world championships say the chief executive of Athletics Kenya, the country’s governing body for track and field, asked them each for a $24,000 bribe to reduce their suspensions.
Joy Sakari and Francisca Koki Manunga told the Associated Press (AP) that CEO Isaac Mwangi asked for the payment in an October 16 meeting, but that they could not raise the money. They were informed of their four-year bans in a November 27 e-mail, but never filed a criminal complaint because, they say, they had no proof to back up their bribery accusation and also feared repercussions.
Mwangi dismissed the allegation as “just a joke,” denied ever meeting privately with the athletes and said Athletics Kenya has no power to shave time off athletes’ bans.
“We have heard stories, athletes coming and saying, ‘Oh, you know, I was asked for money,’” Mwangi said. “But can you really substantiate that?”
Sakari, a 400-meter runner, and Manunga, a hurdler, told AP they would be willing to testify to the ethics commission of the IAAF, the global governing body of athletics.
The commission already is investigating allegations that AK officials sought to subvert anti-doping in Kenya, solicited bribes and offered athletes reduced bans. The probe has led to the suspensions of AK president, Isaiah Kiplagat, a vice president, David Okeyo, and AK’s former treasurer, Joseph Kinyua.
Sharad Rao, a former director of prosecutions in Kenya who also has adjudicated cases for the Court of Arbitration for Sport, is leading the ethics investigation for the IAAF. Sakari and Manunga’s decision to come forward could be a breakthrough, because Kenyan athletes have been unwilling to act as whistle-blowers.
“There is obviously the reluctance on the part of the athletes to come forward,” Rao said. “They don’t want to stand out.”
As many as a half-dozen banned athletes have privately indicated to the IAAF commission that AK officials sought to extort them and that they feel their sanctions might have been less if they had paid bribes, Rao said.
The Wada, meanwhile, said a deal has been signed for British officials to take temporary charge of drug-testing in Russia.
The Russian anti-doping agency (Rusada) was suspended last November following accusations it covered up doping by Russian athletes.
Russia has vowed to implement reforms but it has taken three months to arrange a new testing system.
Wada says the UK Anti-Doping agency will work with Rusada to ensure that “targeted and intelligence-led testing is carried out on Russian athletes.” Test results will be managed by a “designated independent body, with full oversight by Wada.”
The testing program covers all sports, not just track and field, where doping in Russia has come under particular scrutiny.