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Valentin Balakhnichev, the president of the Russian Athletics
Federation (VFLA), told Russia's ITAR-TASS news agency that he
had volunteered to stand down while the investigation was taking
place but planned to return to his job once it was over.
"I sent a letter today to the President of the IAAF, Lamine
Diack, with the offer of temporarily ceasing to work as
treasurer and as a member of the council of this organization,"
Balakhnichev told TASS.
The IAAF launched an investigation into the claims, made by a
German television documentary, alleging widespread doping and
cover-ups among Russian track and field competitors and some
high-ranking officials.
The allegations in the video have not been verified by Reuters
and Balakhnichev has denied any knowledge of doping, denouncing
the claims as "a pack of lies".
"Over the last few days the VFLA and I have been the victims of
a vicious campaign, which has brought concerns amongst my
colleagues from the IAAF."
"I feel it is the correct decision to stop my work with the
IAAF, until this investigation into the doping scandal finishes.
"However, during this period of an enforced holiday, I will be
working for the good of athletics and will continue to give
everything in the fight against doping."
(Reporting By Dmitriy Rogovitskiy; Editing by Julian Linden)
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