IAAF 2016 IAAF vs Valentin Balakhnichev, Alexei Melnikov, Gabriel Dollé & Papa Massata Diack
January 7, 2016
Related case:
CAS 2016_A_4417 & 4419 & 4420 Valentin Balakhnichev, Alexei Melnikov & Papa Massata Diack vs IAAF
August 21, 2017
In September 2015 the IAAF Ethics Commission has reported multiple violations of the IAAF’s Code of Ethics against 4 athletics senior officials for their involvement in the suppression of findings of anti-doping violations by the female Russian marathon runner Lilya Shobukhova and the exaction of monies from her as the price to pay for enabling her, by virtue of such suppression, to compete in athletics competitions.
The Athlete Shobukhova was charged by the IAAF for an anti-doping rule violation on the basis of abnormalities in her blood profile compiled in the course of the IAAF Athlete Biological Passport programme. On 29 July 2015 in a settlement (CAS 2014/A/3662) a 3 year and 2 month period of ineligibility was accepted by the Athlete Shobukhova.
The Athlete provided substantial assistance to WADA and the IAAF in discovering and bringing forward these multiple violations committed by the senior officials. On 24 August 2015 because of her substantial assistance WADA granted the Athlete a reduction of seven months on the sanction.
The involved and accused athletics senior officials are:
a.) Valentin Balakhnichev (VB), former President of the All-Russia Athletic Federation (ARAF) and Honorary Treasurer of the IAAF;
b.) Alexei Melnikov (AM), former Senior ARAF Coach for long distance walkers and runners;
c.) Gabriel Dollé (GD), former Director of the IAAF’s Anti-Doping Department; and
d.) Papa Massata Diack (PMD), former marketing consultant to the IAAF and son of the IAAF’s then President, Lamine Diack (LD).
During the IAAF proceedings against GD and PMD also the French Police conducted criminal investigations.
On 7 January 2016 after a 20 month investigation into corruption, blackmail and extortion the Panel of the IAAF Ethics Commission has come to the clear conclusion that the alleged breaches are made out.
The Panel considers in the light of its findings that VB, AM and PMD should be banned for life from any further involvement in any way in the sport of track and field; any lesser sanction would not meet the gravity of their offences. In GD’s case such ban is also appropriate but in his case for 5 years only; his sins were those of omission, not commission. The Panel hereby imposes these bans with effect from the date of this decision.
Also the Panel considers that it would be appropriate also to mark the gravity of their offences by imposing fines as follows:
a) VB: US$25,000.
b) PMD: US$25,000.
c) AM, whose role seems, given his lower place in the ARAF hierarchy compared to that of VB to have been mainly, if not merely, ministerial: US$15,000.
The Panel sees no need to do the same in the case of GD; the declaratory effect of its finding (coupled with the ban) is proportionate punishment.
