Former international track-and-field president under investigation

French authorities have launched a criminal investigation of Lamine Diack, former president of the international track federation, who is suspected of taking bribes to cover up positive doping tests.

“As part of the French investigation, police visited the IAAF HQ offices yesterday to carry out interviews and to access documentation,” the International Assn. of Athletics Federations said in a brief statement Wednesday morning.

Diack allegedly received at least $220,000 in bribes from Russia and could face charges of corruption and money-laundering, authorities told the news media.

The IAAF said its ethics commission and the World Anti-Doping Assn. are conducting separate probes.

Diack led the IAAF -- one of sports’ most powerful governing bodies -- for 16 years before stepping down in August. Sebastian Coe, the former British runner and Olympic champion, was selected to replace him.