Doping scandal: IOC provisionally suspends Lamine Diack over bribery allegations

The 82-year-old is being investigated by French police under suspicion of taking bribes to cover up positive drugs tests

Former IAAF president Lamine Diack (Getty Images)

Former IAAF president Lamine Diack has been provisionally suspended as an honorary member of the International Olympic Committee.

The 82-year-old is being investigated by French police under suspicion of taking bribes to cover up positive drugs tests.

An IOC statement said: "The IOC's executive board decided this afternoon to confirm the proposal of the IOC ethics commission to provisionally suspend Mr. Lamine Diack, the former president of IAAF, from his honorary membership of the IOC."

In wake of a damning report by the World Anti-Doping Association's independent commission into doping in Russia, the IOC has also asked the IAAF to initiate disciplinary procedures against all athletes, coaches and officials who have participated in Olympics and have been accused of doping in the report.

The IOC added: "With its zero-tolerance policy against doping, following the conclusion of this procedure, the IOC will take all the necessary measures and sanctions with regard to the withdrawal and reallocation of medals and as the case may be exclusion of coaches and officials from future Olympic Games."

The IOC said no irregularities were reported about the WADA accredited laboratory in Sochi during the 2014 Winter Olympics.

"Therefore, the IOC has no reason to question the credibility of the results of the anti-doping tests carried out at the Olympic Winter Games 2014," said the statement.

"However, the IOC retaining all the doping samples for 10 years, will retest samples in an appropriate way should substantial doubts arise. In any case, the IOC may retest samples once new scientific techniques become available."

PA