French prosecutors are investigating suspicions of corruption surrounding bidding for this year's Rio Olympics and the 2020 Games in Tokyo, a judicial source told AFP on Tuesday.
The source, who revealed the inquiry began in December, was confirming a report in Britain's Guardian newspaper.
"We are at the verification stage" to establish whether there has been any wrongdoing, the source said.
The inquiry is part of the wider investigation into Lamine Diack, former president of the world athletics body the IAAF, and his son Papa Massata Diack.
Diack senior has been charged with corruption, money laundering and conspiracy. He is in France where he has been released on bail.
Paris prosecutors are also seeking Papa Massata Diack, who is the subject of an Interpol international alert on charges of blackmailing athletes.
According to the Guardian, Diack father and son served as intermediaries between the two host cities and some members of the International Olympic Committee (IOC).
Diack father had initially backed Istanbul's bid for the 2020 games, but is believed to have changed his mind when a Japanese sponsor signed a contract with the IAAF.
French prosecutors are also looking into the bidding process for the 2021 World Athletics Championships, which was won by Eugene in the United States.
French prosecutors are investigating suspicions of corruption surrounding bidding for this year’s Rio Olympics and the 2020 Games in Tokyo, a judicial source told AFP on Tuesday.
The source, who revealed the inquiry began in December, was confirming a report in Britain’s Guardian newspaper.
“We are at the verification stage” to establish whether there has been any wrongdoing, the source said.
The inquiry is part of the wider investigation into Lamine Diack, former president of the world athletics body the IAAF, and his son Papa Massata Diack.
Diack senior has been charged with corruption, money laundering and conspiracy. He is in France where he has been released on bail.
Paris prosecutors are also seeking Papa Massata Diack, who is the subject of an Interpol international alert on charges of blackmailing athletes.
According to the Guardian, Diack father and son served as intermediaries between the two host cities and some members of the International Olympic Committee (IOC).
Diack father had initially backed Istanbul’s bid for the 2020 games, but is believed to have changed his mind when a Japanese sponsor signed a contract with the IAAF.
French prosecutors are also looking into the bidding process for the 2021 World Athletics Championships, which was won by Eugene in the United States.
