IAAF President Sebastian Coe, at a press conference. PHOTO/File
LONDON, United Kingdom, June 16 – Five of the text message exchanges seen by the BBC involving world athletics supremo Sebastian Coe, suspended IAAF director of communications Nick Davies, and Papa Massata Diack, son of former IAAF president Lamine Diack.
The BBC has alleged that Coe enlisted Papa Massata Diack, wanted in France for fraud, for his successful campaign last year to become the IAAF president. Diack told the BBC Coe would not have beat Ukraine’s Sergey Bubka without his help.
Text
August 13 2015
P Diack: “In your next statements you must speak clearly about Pdt (referring to Lamine) achievements in 16 years.”
Coe: “Absolutely…I always do but will make an extra effort. Thanks. S.”
P Diack: “And leave the doping platform! It is a bad mantra for your campaigning.”
Coe: “Will do.”
August 15
Coe: “Are you still in Dubai? Our friend (Diack Jnr told BBC he was Hamad Kalkaba Malboum, president of the Confederation of African Athletics and crucial to the African vote) is trying to find you?”
P Diack: “I have delayed my departure from 4am to 11am to see him if he wishes so.”
Coe: “Good.”
August 17 — Diack to Nick Davies (then head of IAAF communications but now suspended and under an IAAF ethics investigation relating to Russian doping scandal)
P Diack: “I discovered the edge SB (Bubka) is trying to use Areas vs the The Olympic Athlete Dividend.”
Davies: “Good info I will pass it on.”
August 18
Davies: “Hi Papa — Seb feels a shift in Africa tonight — should he be worried?”
P Diack: “Good then!!”
P Diack: “Support of Africa confirmed (24/30! Good luck.”
August 19 (day of Coe’s IAAF election win):
P Diack: “Well done for the final race of your career!! Long life and best in your endeavours, Mr President and IOC Cardinal! (NB: Coe is not an IOC member yet) Please make a special vote of thanks to Kalkaba.
Coe: “THANK YOU. Of course I will..see you later.”
