In September 2020, former IAAF President Lamine Diack was convicted by a French court of accepting bribes to cover up Russian doping cases, exposing corruption at the highest levels of world athletics. THE CONVICTION The Paris court found Diack guilty of: • Accepting bribes totaling €3.45 million from Russian athletics • Covering up positive doping tests of Russian athletes • Breach of trust in his role as IAAF President • Money laundering THE SENTENCE Diack received: • Four years imprisonment (two suspended) • Fine of €500,000 • Effective imprisonment for a man in his 80s • Confiscation of assets THE COVER-UP SCHEME Evidence revealed a sophisticated operation: • Russian athletes who tested positive were blackmailed • Payments were made to delay or suppress doping cases • The scheme operated during key competition periods • Multiple IAAF officials were involved KEY CO-CONSPIRATORS Others convicted included: • Papa Massata Diack (son) - fled to Senegal, convicted in absentia • Habib Cissé - former IAAF legal counsel • Gabriel Dollé - former IAAF anti-doping director • Russian athletics officials THE RUSSIAN CONNECTION The case revealed: • Direct payments from Russian athletics federation • Coordination with Russian sports ministry • Systematic protection of doped Russian athletes • Millions of euros in bribes over several years IMPACT ON ATHLETICS The scandal led to: • Russia's ban from international athletics • Major reforms in World Athletics governance • Enhanced anti-doping protocols • Ongoing scrutiny of international sports federations The Diack case demonstrated how corruption can undermine the fundamental integrity of international sport.