"The IAAF has defended the bidding process for the 2019 World Athletics Championships after it emerged that the successful Doha bid offered £23.5m in additional “incentives” just minutes before the vote.
After a failed attempt to secure the 2017 world athletics championships, which went to London, Doha on Friday defeated the US city of Eugene 15-12 in the final round of voting after Barcelona had been eliminated.
José Maria Odriozola, a Spanish IAAF executive, this week complained about the move. “All they have is money,” he told Bloomberg.
But the IAAF said on Tuesday the practice of offering last-minute incentives complied with its bidding rules. “All potential host cities are offered an opportunity to include any incentives that they believe will help their cause,” said a spokesman."