The Japanese Olympic Committee (JOC) has set up an investigation panel to consider the scandal over the sceret ‘consultancy’ payment made in the run-up to the award of 2020 Games host rights to Tokyo. The panel includes independent lawyers and an accountant which will investigate the consultancy agreement between the Tokyo 2020 bid committee and a Singapore-based company Black Tidings, linked to disgraced ex-IAAF marketing specialist Papa Massata Diack.

Initially, Tokyo officials denied any knowledge of a US$2 million payment into the account and then changed tack and insisted it was for promotional support. Yoshihisa Hayakawa, Professor of Law at Rikkyo University and practicing lawyer admitted in Japan, has been appointed to head to the investigation panel. Hayakawa is chair of the Japan Anti-Doping Disciplinary Panel and a member of the World Rugby Judicial Panel.

The other two members are lawyer Kabuki Shishido, who is vice-Chair of the Japan Anti-Doping Disciplinary Panel, while Keiichi Kubo is a certified public accountant in Japan and Canada. Observer roles will be held by Kiichiro Matsumaru, senior Executive Board member of the JOC; and Kotaro Wakui, Senior Director for trials, Bureau of General Affairs of the Tokyo Metropolitan Government.

• This article was originally published on Keir Radnedge’s internet site on 25 May 2016. You can access the original by clicking here.