Federations Roundup - Bribery Investigations Against Athletics, Handball Chiefs

Diack Laughs Off IOC Investigation

IAAF president Lamine Diack finds funny the IOC’s ongoing bribery investigation against him.

Executive Board members are expected to hear next month from the IOC Ethics Commission regarding BBC claims that the athletics boss appeared on a Swiss marketing company’s list of payees.

Now defunct, ISL is infamous for its role in FIFA scandals past and present but also once held an exclusive contract with the IAAF for its biennial world championships.

"I was laughing," Diack told CNN in a Monday interview.

"I was laughing because the allegation was about something I received in 1993, and in 1993 I was president of my national Olympic committee; I was president of the African confederation. I was [also] president of the IAAF, so I had nothing to do with the program of marketing of IAAF."

Diack claims the payments were instead made by "supporters" only looking to help him following his house burning down.

"If the [EB] says, 'We want to meet', I will go to them and I will explain myself," he told CNN.

"But I don't find myself guilty of any wrongdoing."

Also in the interview, Diack insisted his native Africa is ready to stage the athletics showpiece for the first time.

"I think you could have a good bid from Africa in 2019, 2021," said the IOC member from Senegal.

"I think that there is a country and an African city that can organize it."

Corruption Cloud Over Handball President

Hassan Moustafa, president of the International Handball Federation, is under investigation by German authorities over corruption allegations.

According to the Associated Press, Moustafa allegedly netted more than $800,000 in negotiating fees from the Sportfive marketing company, whichhandled IHF’s television deals from 2006 to 2009.

A prosecution spokesperson told the AP that Moustafa is being investigated for "bribery and corruption and irregularities in the marketing of sports rights."

Efforts made Wednesday by Around the Ringsto contact the IHF for comment have so far been unsuccessful.

Moustafa’s home in Switzerland, the federation’s offices in Basel and the headquarters of Sportfive were all raided by Swiss investigators last week.

Sportfive said in a statement to the AP: "The background is an investigation by the Hamburg public prosecutor'soffice, directed particularly at Mr. Hassan Moustafa.

"The investigation is aimed neither at Sportfive nor at employees of Sportfive. Sportfive is cooperating with the public prosecutor's office."

Prosecutors said they will evaluate the materials seized before deciding whether to bring charges against Moustafa, IHF president since 2000.

Stiff Competition for 2018 Equestrian Games

There’s a seven-horse race shaping up for hosting rights to the 2018 World Equestrian Games.

The national federations for horse sport in Australia, Canada, Hungary, Morocco, Sweden, Russia, and the U.S. submitted interest ahead of Tuesday’s deadline.

"Having a record seven Expressions of Interest in hosting the FEI World Equestrian Games in 2018 is the best possible endorsement of the FEI's flagship event," FEI secretary general Ingmar de Vos said in a statement.

Also this week, FEI handed out its annual awards Monday to an all-female lineup of Soraya Ourrais (development), Nina Lamsam Ligon (rising star), Alice Gaillard (best groom), Meg Wade (against all odds) and Adelinde Cornelissen (best athlete).

"Equestrianism is one of the only sports in which men and women compete as equals and we are proud of that," said FEI president Princess Haya.

"But the accomplishments, dedication, determination and courage of our winners really stood out among the many nominations - male and female - that we received."