IOC suspends former athletics chief

Lamine Diack has been provisionally suspended as an honorary member of the International Olympics Committee.

The 82-year-old was president of the International Association of Athletics Federation (IAAF) for 16 years, before he was replaced by Lord Coe in August.

Diack is being investigated by French police over allegations he took bribes to cover up positive drugs tests.  His suspension comes after a World Anti-Doping Agency commission report accused Russia of widespread doping.

The IAAF were implicated in the report, which was released on Monday.

Diack's son Papa Massata, advisor Habib Cisse and the former IAAF anti-doping chief Gabriel Dolle are also being investigated by the French police.

The French financial prosecutor said in a statement last week: "Diack is suspected of receiving money in exchange for deferring sanctions for several Russian athletes who were found guilty of doping in 2011, ahead of the Olympic Games.

"Diack and Cisse were arrested on Sunday and released on Tuesday, after being interrogated by police officers and judges.”

Diack ended his 16-year reign as IAAF president in August, when Briton Coe, a double Olympic 1500m winner, was elected as his replacement.