(ATR) Former WADA director general David Howman is to chair the IAAF’s Athletics Integrity Unit Board.
He will oversee the independent Athletics Integrity Unit (AIU), which began operating on Monday. It is part of a package of IAAF reforms designed to restore the track-and-field body’s lost credibility following the damaging Russian doping and Lamine Diack corruption scandals.
The board has a governance role rather than a management function. It is responsible for approving and reviewing the strategy, policies and plans for the AIU and monitoring the performance of the unit’s head; an appointment is expected in early May. Further board members will be announced early next week.
Howman’s appointment comes after the IAAF Council’s approval of a new integrity code of conduct over the weekend. A new website has also launched – www.athleticsintegrity.org.
At the SportAccord Convention in Aarhus, IAAF chief Sebastian Coe spoke to delegates about the importance of the AIU. It replaces the IAAF’s former anti-doping department, taking over the responsibility for the management of all aspects of the anti-doping program for as well as management of all other integrity-related programs in elite athletics.
The AIU’s focus will also investigate allegations of bribery and corruption, betting breaches and the manipulation of competition results.
"It is fundamentally there to help the athletes make the right decisions throughout their careers and provide some safeguards," Coe said, noting the AIU’s range of functions include disciplinary and sanctioning elements, and investigatory powers.
Howman, who quit WADA in 2016 after 13 years as director general, said: "This is going to be a great role.
"Integrity is not about lists of rules to help athletes compete, it is a key principle that must be ingrained in the way athletes live their lives and compete," said Howman.
"The IAAF is addressing this differently to any other international sports federation. It is taking a brave, bold stance by looking at the total package of integrity from the athletes’ point of view. It is rarely one thing that fails but multiple things that come together to create a situation where ethical breaches occur.
"Putting the athlete at the centre of the structures and creating an environment where they can know and share information is critical to putting them in full control of their performances and their actions," added Howman.
The IAAF said on Wednesday that Thomas Capdevielle has taken on his new duties as head of testing and deputy head of the AIU. Some other roles within the AIU are being filled by existing IAAF anti-doping staff members, while a number of other vacancies are being advertised.
The AIU offices have been separated from the IAAF’s headquarters in Monaco and independent IT systems are in place, the release added.
Reported by Mark Bisson
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