adidas ends IAAF sponsorship, ASICS steps in

Global sportswear manufacturer adidas has ended its 11-year partnership deal with world athletics body the IAAF three years early - reportedly due to doping and corruption controversies in the sport.

In a statement adidas advised that it was ending sponsorship deal, believed to be worth at least $33 million, stating "adidas and the IAAF have agreed to terminate their existing partnership agreement in mutual agreement at the end of 2016."

News of its expected termination initially emerged at the end of 2015, at the height of the IAAF's corruption scandal.

Last year an independent World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) investigation exposed state-sponsored Russian doping.

It advised that "corruption was embedded" at the IAAF under the governing body's former President Lamine Diack who, it added, covered up organised doping and blackmailed athletes while senior officials looked the other way.

He and his son Papa Massata Diack are currently under investigation by French authorities on corruption and money laundering charges.

adidas statement added "we would like to thank the IAAF for a successful and professional co-operation and we wish them all the best for the future.

"adidas will continue to remain committed to the sport of athletics by putting a higher focus on individual athletes as part of its company strategy."

The IAAF issued a statement thanking adidas for its long-standing support, advising "while our commercial relationship concludes at the end of 2016, the IAAF is pleased that adidas remains committed to athletics."

The partnership between the IAAF and adidas incorporated "every aspect of athletics, from product creation, to grassroots development and retail distribution", according to a press release that accompanied the deal's announcement in 2008.

Immediately following adidas' announcment, the IAAF advised that Japanese sportswear company Asics Corp will be its new official sponsor, along with Canon, Toyota, Seiko, TDK, TBS and Mondo.

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