Adidas to end sponsorship with athletics body over doping, corruption scandals

 

Adidas are to end their sponsorship with the IAAF as doping and corruption scandals continue to rock athletics, according to the BBC.

The German sports brand's decision would be a huge blow for the sport at the start of an Olympic year, and could see other sponsors follow.

Reports

by the BBC suggest Adidas believes the revelations constitute a break of its agreement with the IAAF, and they will end their association with the governing body four years early.

Athletics has been dogged by allegations of doping and corruption in recent months, with former IAAF president Lamine Diack under formal investigation by French police.

German broadcaster ARD screened a documentary titled "Secret doping dossier: How Russia produces its winners" in December, leading to an independent review led by ex-WADA chief Dick Pound.

The first instalment of that investigation led to Russian athletes being suspended from competition amid allegations of state-sponsored doping.

This month, the latest release accused IAAF officials – particularly Diack – of sanctioning fraudulent activities, something initially denied by current IAAF chief Seb Coe.

Adidas are also a major sponsor of FIFA, themselves the subject of corruption investigations, but have so far not revealed their stance on football's world governing body, despite many sponsors demanding reform at the highest levels of football governance.