Former sprint star Frankie Fredericks (50) has been charged with “passive corruption and money laundering” by a Paris court in connection with the scandal surrounding the award of the 2016 Olympic Games to Rio de Janeiro. That was confirmed by a court spokesman on Friday. The Namibian had previously been questioned.
Fredericks has been a member of the International Olympic Committee since 2012 and is said to have received about 300,000 dollars (262,000 euros) from Papa Massata Diack, son of Lamine Diack, former president of the IAAF, one day before the bid for Rio in 2009.
Most recently, Carlos Arthur Nuzman, former President of the Brazilian Olympic Committee COB, was officially charged with the corruption scandal surrounding the 2016 Summer Games in Rio de Janeiro. In addition to money laundering and violations of foreign exchange regulations, he is also accused of belonging to a criminal organisation. Nuzman is said to have bought votes for the Olympic award to the Brazilian metropolis.
Lamine Diack and Papa Massata Diack are also accused. The investigation focuses on the payment of at least two million dollars to Papa Massata Diack. Before the Olympic Games were awarded in 2009, he allegedly drew additional voters from Africa to Rio’s side with the money.