14 January 2019

JOC President investigated by French police on corruption charges

Tsunekazu Takeda, President of the Japanese Olympic Committee (JOC), is being investigated by French police as part of a probe into alleged corruption related to Japan’s successful bid to host the Tokyo 2020 Olympics, reports Reuters. It is understood that France’s Parquet National Financier is investigating a payment made by the Japanese bidding committee to Singapore-based Black Tidings.

It has previously been alleged that Black Tidings received US$2.8 million in connection to Tokyo’s bid to host the Games. However in September 2016, the JOC cleared Tokyo 2020 over any wrongdoing regarding the payment. 

The suggestion is that payments were made to Black Tidings in return for the securing of votes. Black Tidings has been linked to Papa Massata Diack, son of Lamine Diack, the former President of the International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF) who was an IOC Member at the time. Papa Diack has denied any involvement with Black Tidings, which he argues is a company run by his friend, Ianton Tan. Lamine Diack has been detained by French police since being arrested on corruption charges in November 2015.

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