Seven countries placed on World Athletics watchlist

World Athletics has put seven countries on its new competition manipulation watchlist.

It follows an Athletics Integrity Unit (AIU) investigation into 17 reports of suspicious results in qualification for the delayed 2020 Tokyo Olympics.

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The countries in question are Albania, Armenia, Georgia, Kyrgyzstan, Moldova, Turkey and Uzbekistan.

“The integrity of our sport is our highest priority at World Athletics,” said World Athletics president Lord Coe. “Without it, we don’t have a sport.

World Athletics says it will only recognise results in those countries from official international or area championships, certain international competitions – like the Diamond League – and “national championships, provided certain conditions are fulfilled and subject to World Athletics approval”