Four officials to face IAAF hearing into alleged doping cover-up

Image source, Reuters

Image caption, Liliya Shobukhova won the London Marathon in 2010 and came second a year later

The son of ex-world athletics chief Lamine Diack is one of four officials facing a disciplinary hearing this week over an alleged doping cover-up.

Papa Massata Diack, a former consultant for the IAAF, and ex-IAAF anti-doping director Gabriel Dolle are charged with breaches of the IAAF's code of ethics.

Former All-Russia Athletic Federation chief Valentin Balakhnichev and coach Alexei Melnikov are also in the dock.

None are expected at the three-day hearing, which starts on Wednesday.

The charges relate to the payment of about 拢435,000 that Russian former London Marathon winner Liliya Shobukhova allegedly made to have her doping violations covered up.

Her 38-month ban from track and field was reduced by seven months after she turned whistleblower for the World Anti-Doping Agency.

A decision from the hearing, which will be held in London, is expected in early January.

Russia have been banned from international athletics competition after a report by Wada's independent commission alleged they were guilty of