Global Athletics Body Uncovers Major Financial Fraud

MONACO – World Athletics, the global governing body for track and field, announced on Thursday, October 30, 2025, that it has uncovered a “systematic theft” amounting to more than €1.5 million (approximately KSh 235 million). The fraud was allegedly carried out over several years by two former senior employees and a contracted consultant. The revelation has sent shockwaves through the sport, prompting the organization to terminate contracts, launch criminal proceedings, and overhaul its internal financial controls.

In a statement released on Thursday EAT, World Athletics confirmed the theft was discovered earlier this year by its finance department during the first annual audit conducted under a new financial leadership team. An independent forensic accounting review was subsequently commissioned, which confirmed the extent of the fraud but found no other fraudulent activity. The organization has handed over detailed cases to judicial and legal authorities in both Monaco, where it is headquartered, and the United Kingdom for criminal investigation.

Senior Officials Implicated in Scheme

While World Athletics did not officially name the individuals involved, multiple international media outlets, citing sources close to the investigation, identified them as former Chief Operating Officer Vineesh Kochhar and James Lord, the former Director of Broadcast. According to reports, the scheme involved the use of fake or doctored invoices to siphon funds over an extended period. One of the employees had already left the organization before the discovery, while the other and the consultant had their contracts terminated immediately following an internal investigation.

World Athletics President Sebastian Coe expressed his profound disappointment but stressed the organization's commitment to transparency. “Too many organisations brush incidents like this under the carpet... We are not that type of organisation,” Coe stated on Thursday. “We have built a strong reputation for good governance, transparency and for defending what is right, even if it is sometimes a little uncomfortable. This is uncomfortable but it is important that we do the right thing.” He affirmed that World Athletics is “determined to recover whatever monies we are able using the full force of the law.”

Implications for Kenya and African Athletics

While there is no direct evidence linking the stolen funds to specific projects in Kenya or East Africa, the scandal raises significant concerns for member federations that rely on the global body for financial support. World Athletics distributes millions of dollars in grants and an “Olympic dividend” to its members. According to a June 2024 statement from the organization, over 20% of the US$50 million (approx. KSh 7.8 billion) invested in grant funding for administration, competition, and development over the current four-year cycle is allocated to Africa. This funding is critical for nurturing talent, hosting events, and managing administrative duties for federations like Athletics Kenya (AK).

Any significant financial loss or diversion of funds at the headquarters in Monaco could potentially impact the size and regularity of future grants, affecting grassroots development and the preparation of elite athletes in a nation considered an athletics superpower. As of Friday, October 31, 2025, EAT, Athletics Kenya had not issued a public statement on the matter. The long-term impact will depend on World Athletics' ability to recover the stolen assets and the effectiveness of its newly enhanced financial controls.

A Test of Governance Reforms

The incident comes at a sensitive time for World Athletics, which has worked for years under Coe's leadership to rebuild its reputation following the corruption scandals under former president Lamine Diack. The organization has prided itself on implementing robust governance and transparency measures, which were credited with uncovering the fraud. The theft represents a significant test of these reforms and the federation's resolve to enforce accountability.

The amount stolen, €1.5 million, is substantial. For context, it is more than half of the entire US$2.4 million (approx. KSh 375 million) prize pot that World Athletics allocated for gold medalists at the Paris 2024 Olympics—a landmark initiative to pay athletes for Olympic success for the first time. The case now moves to the criminal justice systems in Europe, with the global athletics community, including key stakeholders in Kenya, watching closely to see if the funds can be recovered and justice served.