World Athletics has announced seven nations have been placed on a 'Competition Manipulation Watch List' following suspicious qualifying results for last year's Tokyo Olympic Games. Albania, Armenia, Georgia, Kyrgyzstan, Moldova, Turkey and Uzbekistan are the countries that have been placed on the list.
A statement from World Athletics confirmed there had been "17 reports of suspicious competition results during the qualification period for the 2021 Olympic Games". The governing body confirmed the decision via a statement on Friday.
The statement read: "Seven Member Federations have been placed on the new Competition Manipulation Watch List following an investigation of suspicious competition results conducted by the Athletics Integrity Unit (AIU).
"The World Athletics Council approved the introduction of a Competition Manipulation Watch List at its meeting in Oregon in July, in response to an AIU investigation prompted by 17 reports of suspicious competition results during the qualification period for the 2021 Olympic Games. The World Athletics Competition Department will work with Member Federations who are placed on the Watch List to improve and reform their competition procedures."
The matter was also addressed by World Athletics President Seb Coe, who said: "The integrity of our sport is our highest priority at World Athletics. Without it, we don't have a sport.
"That is why we established the independent AIU, to identify and address all threats to integrity. I would like to thank the AIU for their continued hard work to protect our sport. Maintaining integrity requires eternal vigilance and this is a timely reminder that all our Member Federations must be equally committed to upholding the principles of fair competition."
The announcement once again drags a dark cloud over the Olympic integrity, after a report from The Times this week revealed allegations of bribery to win Olympic medals for member nations.
