The son of IAAF President LAMINE DIACK is "among senior officials from the embattled athletics governing body who have stepped down from their posts pending the outcome of an investigation" into allegations of institutionalized doping in Russia. PAPA MASSATA DIACK, an IAAF marketing consultant with "exclusive rights to sell sponsorship in developing regions," has joined Russian Athletics Federation President and IAAF Treasurer VALENTIN BALAKHNICHEV in "agreeing to step down." The sport has been "thrown into crisis by allegations of systemic doping
among Russian athletes, claims of a cover-up at the highest levels of
the IAAF and new questions over the conduct" of Papa Massata Diack (London GUARDIAN, 12/11). ... Nike Global Chief Information Officer ANTHONY WATSON "has left the company for personal reasons." Nike COO ERIC SPRUNK will lead the company's technology organization while it "searches for a replacement." Watson joined Nike in '04 "after more than four years at Barclays" (WSJ, 12/10). ... GMR Marketing named McLaren F1 team Senior Partner Manager CRISPIN BOLT client services director for motorsport. Bolt will be based out of GMR's London offices (GMR). ... Former French Federation of American Football Technical Dir THIERRY SOLER was appointed Monday as the national technical director of the French Federation of Ice Sports (FFSG). The 47-year-old former shot putter and American football player will succeed XAVIER SENDRA, who was "not renewed after four years of service," starting on Jan. 1 (AFP, 12/11).
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