Former BYU and Olympic sprinter Frank Fredericks was provisionally suspended by track and field's governing body, the IAAF, pending investigation for a potential ethics violation, the organization announced Monday.
Fredericks, a four-time Olympic medalist, is a member of the International Olympic Committee and an IAAF council member.
Fredericks is being investigated by the Athletics Integrity Unit concerning payments received by Fredericks' company, Yemi Limited, from Papa Massata Diack, the son of former IAAF president Lamine Diack, "on or close to the date" an IOC vote awarded the 2016 Olympic Games to Rio de Janeiro, according to an AIU statement regarding the investigation.
Fredericks, as an IOC member, had a vote in the awarding of the 2016 Olympics.
According to the AIU, Fredericks said the payments received ($300,000 according to Reuters) were for services rendered that had nothing to do with the awarding of the 2016 Olympic Games. The AIU also said Fredericks plans to contest the provisional suspension.
Reuters reported that Fredericks stepped down earlier this year as head of the IOC team in charge of evaluating bids for hosts of the 2024 Olympics. According to that report, he also voluntarily resigned from an IAAF task force investigating doping allegations in Russia.
In its statement, the AIU said Fredericks "enjoys the presumption of innocence until the conclusion of that investigative process."
"I am not prepared to voluntarily consent not to undertake my duties in respect of the position I hold as IAAF Council Member," Fredericks said in a statement on June 2, according to documents made available by the IAAF.
After stating he will use his best judgment in attending future council meetings, Fredericks said, "I reiterate that I categorically deny any wrongdoing."
Fredericks was inducted into the BYU Athletics Hall of Fame in 2001 after a storied collegiate career and won silver medals running for Namibia in the 100- and 200-meter races at both the 1992 and 1996 Olympic Games.