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Fredericks leaves 2024 Olympic bid role, waives vote

FILE - This is a Tuesday, May 20, 2008 file photo of Namibian former athlete Frank Fredericks, right, as he takes a look on the Wembley Pitch with Sebastian Coe during a visit by the International Olympic Committee to Wembley Stadium in London. The International Olympic Committee members are on a three day visit to London to inspect venues for the London2012 Olympic Games. Former Olympic sprinter Frankie Fredericks has turned himself over to the IOC ethics commission following a French newspaper report Friday March 3, 2017 linking him to a payment from a man who has been banned for life from track and field for corruption. (AP Photo/Kirsty Wigglesworth, File)
FILE - This is a Tuesday, May 20, 2008 file photo of Namibian former athlete Frank Fredericks, right, as he takes a look on the Wembley Pitch with Sebastian Coe during a visit by the International Olympic Committee to Wembley Stadium in London. The International Olympic Committee members are on a three day visit to London to inspect venues for the London2012 Olympic Games. Former Olympic sprinter Frankie Fredericks has turned himself over to the IOC ethics commission following a French newspaper report Friday March 3, 2017 linking him to a payment from a man who has been banned for life from track and field for corruption. (AP Photo/Kirsty Wigglesworth, File)

By Associated Press 3 min read

GENEVA (AP) – IOC member Frank Fredericks has stepped down from his role overseeing the 2024 Olympic bidding process after a $300,000 payment from a banned track official was revealed.

“Paris and Los Angeles are presenting two fantastic candidatures and I do not wish to become a distraction,” the four-time Olympic silver medalist from Namibia said Tuesday in a statement.

Stepping aside as IOC evaluation chairman was “in the best interests” of the bidding process, the former sprinter said.

Fredericks, who won his Olympic medals in the 1990s, would have led an April 23-25 visit to Los Angeles. Paris will be evaluated by an IOC team on May 14-16.

“(I)t is essential that the important work my colleagues are doing is seen as being carried out in a truthful and fair manner,” Fredericks said, adding he will waive his right to vote in the September hosting contest.