Two of World Athletics organisation employees were discovered that they stole money from the organisation. Image credit: SABC News
(The Post News) – World Athletics has uncovered a major case of internal theft, revealing that two of its employees and an external consultant embezzled more than €1.5 million (about $1.75 million) over several years. The discovery was made during the federation’s first annual audit conducted under new financial leadership.
The findings triggered an internal investigation that resulted in the dismissal of one employee and the consultant involved, while another staff member had already left the organisation before their role was uncovered. The matter has since been referred to law enforcement for criminal investigation.
According to SABC News, Olympic journalist Alan Abrahamson from 3WireSports identified the alleged individuals as former chief operating officer Vineesh Kochhar and former director of broadcast James Lord, while the consultant reportedly held no managerial position.
In a statement, World Athletics said detailed case files have been handed over to the relevant authorities and that an independent forensic accounting review found no further irregularities. The organisation has also implemented stronger internal financial controls to prevent future incidents.
President Sebastian Coe said World Athletics would pursue full recovery of the stolen funds through legal means, emphasising the organisation’s commitment to transparency and accountability.
“Too many organisations try to quietly move past incidents like this,” Coe said. “We are not that kind of organisation. It is uncomfortable, but we believe in doing what’s right and upholding our reputation for strong governance and integrity.”
About the Author
