Diack, due to retire from his position as IAAF President after 16 years at the helm later this year, had warned last month that athletics was embroiled in a doping "crisis."

The most recent doping storm involves Russia as the country has been accused of being at the heart of a systematic scandal, allowing some of their athletes to cheat their way to victory.

Africa has also not been shown in the best light as of late either following Kenyan marathon star Rita Jeptoo's ban for testing positive for erythropoietin (EPO). 

"I think one of the solutions would be for each African country to have their own anti-doping agency," said Diack. 

"This is a continuous fight but if you don't have the support of the Government there's no way we can succeed.

"Footballers don't get suspended for two years but they do in athletics and we have worked hard, particularly with the biological passports.

"We also recognise there has been a problem in Russia and we are working on it."

Kenyan Rita Jeptoo was banned for two-years after testing positive for erythropoietin 
©Getty Images



The 81-year-old Senegalese recognised that Jeptoo had been dealt with properly, but stressed that the public should not become "fixated" on that particular case, adding he felt doping leads spectators to question the results, especially after six Jamaican athletes were handed bans in 2013.

"The Jeptoo issue has caused a stir in our sport but we have to live it as she has been punished," Diack said.

"When this type of situation happens people start to question results and we can't have a fixation on Kenyan athletes just because of Jeptoo."

Speaking at the Convention, Diack reminisced about his period as a long-jump athlete before he embarked on a career in sporting administration, culminating in his appointment as IAAF President following the death of Italian Primo Nebiolo in 1999.

"I never thought I would be President," he admitted.

"The only thing I didn't do in Senegal was to become Prime Minister.

"[During my time with IAAF] I tried to bring politics and sport together, and we have overcome many things.

"My role was to universalise athletics - we can't just be strong in one continent, we have to be universal."

The 9th edition of the CISA Convention is due to conclude tomorrow with presentations and discussions about the African Games, due to be held in Brazzaville, Congo in September.

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