The IAAF were rocked in November by the publication of a WADA report revealing a Russian state-sponsored doping system and a "deeply rooted culture of cheating".
The report argued that a number of Russian athletes should have been banned from competing in the London Olympics in 2012, and would have been had it not been for "the collective and inexplicable laissez-faire policy" pursued by both the Russian federation and the IAAF.
Seb Coe, who was the IAAF vice president for seven years prior to his election to president in August was grilled by Channel 4's Jon Snow, who claimed that he was either asleep on the job or corrupt to allow this scandal to proceed unchecked.
The IAAF's position and credibility has dwindled further with the publication in Le Monde of an email sent by IAAF deputy general secretary Nick Davies that shows he had knowledge of the Russian doping programme and he discussed a secret plan to withold the names of those found guilty of cheating before the World Championships in Moscow.
Davies wrote to Papa Massata Diack, a former IAAF marketing consultant to discuss the importance of keeping "Russian skeletons in the cupboard, telling Diack that "we need to be smart" relating to the releasing of names.
In the aftermath of the email's publication, Davies stood down from his role, stating that:
What has become apparent is that I have become the story. This is not helpful at the current time, with ongoing criminal investigations by the French police, the IAAF’s ethics board or the World Anti-Doping Agency – all of whom I have voluntarily offered full assistance to and will continue to do so.
In order to demonstrate that I am willing to have all allegations of unethical behaviour on my part in 2013 properly and fairly investigated, I have referred my emails to Papa Massata Diack in 2013, my statements and the circumstances of the emails, to the IAAF ethics board. I have decided to step aside from my role with the IAAF until such time as the ethics board is able to review the matter properly and decide if I am responsible for any breach of the IAAF code of ethics.
See Also: Video: Channel 4's Jon Snow Seriously Grilled IAAF President Seb Coe
