World Athletics are seeking £35million in compensation over lost sponsorship revenue after former president Lamine Diack was jailed by a Parisian court.
The 87-year-old was given a four-year term – two years suspended – after being found guilty of soliciting bribes worth in excess of £3m.
His son Papa Massata, who did not attend the trial and remains in Senegal, was found to have made £11.5m for his part in the covering up positive drug tests by Russian athletes and given a five-year sentence in his absence.
Diack Sr has been under house arrest in Paris since November 2015 and it is thought likely he will see out the rest of his term under those conditions.
But his lawyer said he would be appealing against the judgement, which was branded “unfair and inhumane” as well as a fine of £450,000 after the judge ruled he had “undermined the values of athletics and the fight against doping”.
In a statement, World Athletics said: “This has been a long five year and we would like to thank the French prosecutors and the Paris Criminal Court for their time, detailed work and deliberations into this case.
“Whilst we are disappointed this happened in our sport, we are grateful for the strong and clear decisions that have been taken against the individuals involved and charged with these crimes, and we would like to reassure everyone that the reforms our congress approved in 2016 will ensure that similar actions by individuals can never happen again in this sport.”
