Ukraine’s International Olympic Committee (IOC) Executive Board member Sergey Bubka has “completely denied any wrongdoing” after reports of links of a financial relationship with officials at the centre of doping and corruption scandals.
According to French newspaper Le Monde, Bubka made a payment of $45,000 (£33,200/€37,800) on June 18 in 2009 to New Mills Investments Ltd, a Nevis-based company linked to former International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF) treasurer and Russian Athletics Federation (RusAF) President Valentin Balakhnichev.
The payment was reportedly made a day after a virtually identical amount was transferred from New Mills Investments to Pamodzi Sports, a firm owned by Papa Massata Diack, the son of former IAAF President Lamine Diack.
Bubka, however, insisted the payment was for consultancy work connected to the international expansion of the Pole Vault Stars competition he used to organise annually in Ukrainian city Donetsk.
Bubka’s representatives claimed had no knowledge of the further payment made to Papa Diack.
“I completely deny any wrongdoing,” Bubka told insidethegames today.
“The payment to Mr Balaknichev was for consultancy services in connection with expanding the scope of the Pole Vault Stars events beyond Donetsk.”
