IAAF Launches New Independent Unit to Combat Cheating and Corruption in Track and Field

By Adam Kopet, DyeStat Editor

As the IAAF works to get past the cheating and corruption scandals that have plagued it for the last two years, a new independent unit has been created, the Athletics Integrity Unit (AIU), to uphold the new Integrity Code of Conduct that the IAAF Council passed over the weekend. The announcement came in a press release Wednesday.

The AIU will perform the IAAF anti-doping operations as well as actively investigate and provide accountability for cheating, bribery, corruption and competition manipulation. The functions of the IAAF Ethics Board will also be handed over to the AIU. It will have both governance and management responsibilities under a separate board from the IAAF Council and in offices outside of the IAAF headquarters.

David Howman, former General Director of the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA), has been named chairperson of the AIU. Additional board members will be announced soon.

As part of the new organization, a new website has been created at www.athleticsintegrity.org. While the website is still in an early stage of development, it is clear athlete education will play an important role. However, an important function that has debuted with the website launch is a reporting form for suspected doping.

In related news, the AIU is hiring for anti-doping and integrity review panels. More information can be found here.