IAAF rejects corruption appeal by Kenya

London - The IAAF ethics board on Friday upheld the provisional suspension of Kenyan athletics chief executive Isaac Mwangi after he was accused of seeking bribes from two athletes.

Mwangi was suspended in February after runners Joy Sakari and Francisca Koki Manunga said he sought bribes to reduce their four-year doping bans.

The Kenyan official denied any wrongdoing and challenged the ban last month. An IAAF panel said however that while no formal charges have yet been made, "there is a prima facie case and one fit for further investigation against Mr Mwangi."

It added that "the integrity of the sport could be seriously undermined if we did not maintain a provisional suspension."

The panel highlighted "the gravity of the allegations" and "the risk to the sport" if Mwangi resumed his Athletics Kenya role while the investigation is carried out.

The panel said that Mwangi, who was accused of seeking $24,000 from each woman, had described the athletes as "cheats" and "liars".