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Diack Quits IOC Post; Putin Cancels Talks With Russian Sports Leaders


The International Olympic Committee (IOC) says the embattled former president of the the governing body for track and field, Lamine Diack, has resigned from his position as an honorary IOC member.

Diack was arrested by French investigators and charged with corrurption last week amid allegations that he took bribes to cover up doping cases, primarily in Russia.

The World Antidoping Agency (WADA) on November 9 published a scathing report about a systemic pattern of cheating by Russian athletes, including allegations of a state-sponsored doping program in Russia.

Meanwhile, Russian President Vladimir Putin has canceled a meeting with Russian sports leaders, scheduled to be held in Sochi on November 11, in which he was meant to discuss Russia’s plans for the 2016 Summer Olympics in Brazil.

Putin’s spokesman, Dmitry Peskov, said the meeting was canceled because heavy rain restricted fights in and out of Sochi.

Putin had been due to discuss the doping allegations against Russia with track federation coach Yuri Borzakovsky in attendance.

WADA has recommended that Russia be banned from future competitions, including the Rio Olympics, until it addresses the concerns.

Based on reporting by Reuters, AP, and AFP

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