All-Russia Athletics Federation President Valentin Balakhnichev agreed to help fund a political campaign in Senegal after being approached by Lamine Diack (right), it is claimed ©Getty Images

Former International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF) President Lamine Diack has reportedly admitted to French police he asked Russia for €1.5 million (£1.1 million/$1.6 million) to help him mount a political campaign in his native Senegal. 

France's National Office for Financial Prosecutions is currently investigating Diack, who stepped down as IAAF President in August when he was succeeded by Britain's Sebastian Coe.

The police suspect Diack of taking the money to help cover-up positive drugs tests involving Russian athletes.

French newspaper Le Monde claimed it has obtained transcripts of Diack's interviews with police where he admits to having spoken with former All-Russia Athletics Federation (ARAF) President and IAAF treasurer Valentin Balakhnichev in 2011 about needing money.

Diack wanted to finance opposition against Senegal's then-President Abdoulaye Wade.

The transcript reported by Le Monde said: "I told him that to win the elections, I needed about €1.5 million.

"He said to me, 'We'll try to find it, no problem'.

"At that time there was these problems of suspending Russian athletes a few months ahead of the [2013] World Championships in Russia.

"We came to an agreement.

"Russia paid.

"Balakhnichev organised all of that."

Lamine Diack reportedly offered to cover-up positive drugs tests involving Russian athletes in the build-up to the 2013 World Championships in Moscow in return for €1.5 million to help fund a political campaign in Senegal ©Getty Images
Lamine Diack reportedly offered to cover-up positive drugs tests involving Russian athletes in the build-up to the 2013 World Championships in Moscow in return for €1.5 million to help fund a political campaign in Senegal ©Getty Images

Balakhnichev denied to Le Monde having had such a conversation with Diack.

The IAAF Ethics Commission today concluded a three-day hearing into Balakhnichev, Diack's son Papa Massata Diack, former IAAF anti-doping director Gabriel Dolle; and the ARAF's former chief coach for long-distance athletes, Alexei Melnikov.

The officials faced disciplinary hearings on charges that they covered up doping offences.

All four are charged with various breaches of the IAAF's code of ethics and could face lifetime bans - a decision is expected in early January.

insidethegames believes that none of the men charged turned up personally for the hearing. 

The IAAF charges involve Russian runner Liliya Shobukhova, the former London Marathon winner, who has admitted to the World Anti-Doping Agency that she paid more than  than $450,000 (£300,000/€400,000) to avoid a doping ban.

The IAAF has banned Russia from international competition after a report by WADA's Independent Commission, headed by Richard Pound, who is due to release the second part of his findings on January 14.

Senegal's President Macky Sall, who was elected in April 2012, has denied his campaign was funded by Diack.

Government spokesperson Seydou Gueye said Sall was not involved.