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Istanbul, TurkeyIAAF Council has accepted the conclusions of independent investigation into the voting breakdown at the IAAF Congress in Daegu, Korea.
Following the failure of the electronic voting system (EVS) during the 48th IAAF Congress in Daegu, Korea, in 2011, Lauri Tarasti, former chairman of the IAAF Juridical Commission, was appointed by the IAAF President to conduct a thorough investigation.
This investigation was supported by an independent technology expert, Alan Peabody, who travelled to Monaco in January 2012 to carry out a full system test with the full co-operation of the company responsible for delivering the EVS in Daegu. Following these tests, reports were submitted by the company responsible for the service, Mr Peabody as well as Mr Tarasti.
The conclusion was that there were two main faults, due to flaws in the EVS, which resulted in the registration of too many votes, as well as, in some cases, votes to the wrong candidates. The report underlined that the faults listed above were not detected during the EVS rehearsal which took place the day before the elections.
IAAF Council approved the report of Mr Tarasti and agreed that a new procedure for the EVS will be introduced and used at the next IAAF Congress in Moscow in 2013. This new procedure would be based on the recommendations of the report and would ensure that:
> The electronic voting system will be managed by a company with wide references and experience, with penalty for contract breaches.
> The IAAF will clearly formulate its requirements, monitor the activities of the company and assist it where necessary.
> One independent expert will be appointed by the IAAF to control and monitor the EVS, acting in co-operation with the company before and during the Congress. This expert will have full understanding of IAAF Rules and relevant computer technology.
> Rehearsals prior to the Congress will check all possible voting alternatives.
IAAF President Lamine Diack said: “I am very satisfied that we have been able to carry out an independent investigation which concluded that we suffered from a technical breakdown of our EVS in Daegu. I believe that we have not only uncovered the detailed reasons for this breakdown but can now establish a new procedure which will be credible and transparent.”