Ex-sprinter and four-time Olympic silver medallist, Frankie Fredericks, have been suspended by the International Olympic Committee (IOC), after charges of money laundering and corruption.
Fredericks who was charged by the French authorities last week is being accused of accepting a bribe of £230,000 from former IAAF President, Lamine Diack’ s son in the 2016 Olympic host rights votes which was won by Rio de Janeiro.
He was suspended on Tuesday by the IOC, noting “the impact on the IOC’s reputation”.
“Considering the gravity and urgency of the situation and its impact on the reputation of the IOC, the IOC executive board decides to suspend Mr Frank Fredericks from all the rights, prerogatives and functions deriving from his quality as an IOC member,” the IOC said.
However, the Namibian who was a member of the IAAF council and a well-known figure within the IOC, claims the money was legitimately given to him as payment for consultancy and promotional work for athletics governing body.
Fredericks was provisionally suspended from the IAAF in July, following an investigation which was opened by Athletic Integrity Unit.
The 50 years old Namibian won silver medals in the 100m and 200m in Barcelona 1992 and Atlanta 1996. He went ahead to win a gold medal in the 200m at the world championships at Stuttgart in 1993. He is also the only Namibian thus far to have won an Olympic medal.
Fredericks was the chairman of the 2024 Olympic bid evaluation Committee but stepped down due to the allegations levied against him.
He also stepped down from his position in the IAAF task force, which was responsible for evaluating Russia’s return to Sport after the widespread doping scandals.
