Coe U-turn as he agrees to a second MP grilling
LORD COE appears to have performed an about-turn and agreed to face further questions from MPs over exactly what he knew about corruption in world athletics.
A statement issued last week by Coe’s spokesperson suggested he was not prepared to reappear before the Department of Culture, Media and Sport select committee. Evidence given by David Bedford had highlighted what MPs believe is at least one ‘discrepancy’ in statements made by Coe to the committee in 2015.
The MPs concluded the IAAF president was using his right as a member of the House of Lords to decline their request for a reappearance. But yesterday the committee published a letter exchange between Coe and chairman Damian Collins MP in which Coe denied he had refused to return to Westminster.
Coe has come under pressure after Bedford revealed the full circumstances surrounding an email he sent to Coe, who was then vice-president of the IAAF, in 2014 informing him of the extortion of a top female Russian marathon runner after a failed drug test.
The email was revealed in a joint investigation by Sportsmail and BBC’s Panorama last June. Coe’s spokesperson claimed he never read Bedford’s email and suggested he could only be accused of a ‘lack of curiosity’.
Evidence given by Bedford earlier this month left the MPs demanding Coe face further questioning, given he told the committee in 2015 that not until the airing of a German TV documentary was he aware of alleged corruption at the highest level.
In a letter sent on Monday by Coe to Collins, he says: ‘I would like to make it very clearr that I have not said anywhere that I would not be prepared to answer further questions, nor have I said I am too busy. I have made myself and myy team available to helpelp wherever we can.
‘ What I would likeike to understand, and I believe I have a right to understand, is the nature of the further information that you are seeking.
‘So far, I have read in your statement and in direct quotes from you through the media that in light of David Bedford’s evidence to the select committee last week, you consider there to be a “whole range of questions that remained unanswered”.
‘If you can be more specific in identifying the questions and specific areas that you believe I can assist with, I will do what I can to help the select committee further.’furth Collins, whose selectsel committee is los looking into doping in sport, responded in a letter:l ‘As I explained in my letter to you in September, we invited David Bedfordf to give evidence tot us about the email he sent you in August 2014201 with attachments settingsetti out specific allegationsallegatio relating to the senior management of the IAAF and the Russian marathon runner Liliya Shobukhova. ‘In the course of David Bedford’s evidence, we learned he had also telephoned and spoken to you in August 2014 about the email before sending it to you, as well as texting afterwards. ‘We also understand you were invited to meet a representative of the Russian whistleblowers in 2014. David Bedford told the committee that, in his view, you were aware, at least in general terms, of the allegations that the whistleblowers had made. However, when you gave evidence to this committee on December 2, 2015, you told us you did not know about specific allegations about Russian doping and corruption until Hajo Seppelt’s documentary about the IAAF was broadcast. We wish to pursue this discrepancy.
‘We also infer from the text of your email exchange with Michael Beloff QC (chairman of the IAAF’s ethics comission) that you had sent him an earlier email relating to the information David Bedford had sent you.
‘We would be grateful if you would send us a copy of your full exchange of emails with Michael Beloff. There will be other questions that the committee may wish to pursue.’
The committee is now hoping to agree a date with Coe.
Next Tuesday the committee will hear from Nicole Cooke over issues concerning British Cycling and Team Sky and the treatment of women in cycling.