OlyGate? US Justice agents stepping up inquiry into IOC’s Rio 2016 ballot
NEW YORK: New reports have emerged of an inquiry by the United States Department of Justice into the International Olympic Committee award to Rio de Janeiro of host rights to the 2016 Games writes KEIR RADNEDGE.
Earlier this autumn it emerged in Brazil that the US authorities had followed the example of French and Swiss colleagues in investigating the award in Copenhagen in October 2009.
According now to Wall Street Journal, the issue under scrutiny concerns alleged vote-buying and possible corruption over 2016 contracts including those for media and marketing rights.
The inquiry is being led by the same FBI squad and group of federal prosecutors that in 2015 brought charges alleging wide-ranging corruption in international soccer and which, for two years, have been investigating alleged state-sponsored Russian doping in the Olympics.
In Brazil former Olympic supremo Carlos Artur Nuzman and ex-world athletics boss Lamine Diack have been formally indicted by Rio prosecutors over vote-rigging accusations concerning 2016.
They claim that Nuzman and Sergio Cabral, the former governor of Rio, ” directly solicited ” from Brazilian businessman Arthur Soares the payment of $2m to Papa Massata Diack, formerly a marketing consultant to the International Association of Athletics Federations, to secure votes among IOC members in 2009.
Cabral – who is currently serving a 15-year prison sentence – Papa Massata Diack and Arthur Soares – both out of the country – were also indicted, along with Leonardo Gryner, formerly Nuzman’s right-hand man.
According to the prosecutor’s office Nuzman, Gryner and Cabral met Lamine Diack in August 2009 in Berlin at the World Athletics Championships, and the Senegalese leader suggested that they deal with his son over the payment of bribes.
Papa Massata Diack – Lamine Diack’s son – has been placed on Interpol’s list of most wanted people in connection with fraud, money laundering and corruption allegations.
Nuzman, who was arrested at his home on October 5, has denied all wrongdoing and been released on bail.
The IOC has always insisted on providing full cooperation to the French and Swiss inquiries so, presumably, the US investigation will be treated equally.
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