KUALA LUMPUR: Leaked audio recordings allegedly from a Malaysia Athletics council meeting earlier this month are circulating, raising fresh questions over Datuk Karim Ibrahim’s position as president.
The recordings suggest World Athletics had raised concerns over governance and sought reforms.
Malaysia Athletics deputy president Datuk Wan Hisham Wan Salleh, who was allegedly speaking in the recordings, confirmed to Twentytwo13 that World Athletics had sent two letters dated Jan 14 and March 10.
However, he said he had not heard the recordings and could not confirm if the voice was his.
In the recordings that lasted 10 minutes and three seconds, an individual is heard reading out the contents of the two letters.
The recordings, shared with Twentytwo13, suggest World Athletics sought details on the process behind Karim’s election and requested a “concrete roadmap” to align the association’s constitution with international rules.
Karim was suspended by World Athletics, then known as the International Association of Athletics Federations, in 2018, with the decision later upheld by the Court of Arbitration for Sport.
However, Karim has denied claims that he was banned for life.
Twentytwo13 reached out to Karim, who said he was on a walk and would respond later.
Wan Hisham said he had read the letters during the April 9 council meeting but maintained it was not appropriate to disclose their contents at this stage.
“I can confirm there were two letters from World Athletics, and I read them out during the council meeting (on April 9),” he said.
“We have replied to the letters, but I do not feel it is right to divulge the contents until World Athletics gets back to us.
“But I can confirm they asked us to align our constitution with the world body.”
Wan Hisham added that he remained hopeful of an amicable resolution.
According to the recordings, the Jan 14 letter from the World Athletics Vetting Panel referenced an earlier decision deeming Karim ineligible to serve as a World Athletics official.
It allegedly emphasised that member federations are required to prevent ineligible individuals from holding office, noting that failure to comply could constitute a breach of governance obligations.
The recordings also allege that World Athletics informed Malaysia Athletics of Karim’s suspension on Oct 7, 2020.
The March 10 letter, meanwhile, allegedly called for a clear and time-bound commitment to address the issue. It also urged Malaysia Athletics to take concrete remedial action, including removing any ineligible individual currently holding office.
The federation was also asked to provide a roadmap to align its constitution with World Athletics rules and ensure only eligible individuals stand for election to the presidency.