PARIS — BeIN media group CEO Yousef Al-Obaidly was handed preliminary charges of corruption as part of an investigation into the bidding process for the 2019 track world championships in Qatar, a judicial official was quoted as saying by the Associated Press on Wednesday.

Investigating magistrates are also considering charging former president of the International Association of Athletics Federations Lamine Diack with passive corruption.

In November 2016, Le Monde newspaper obtained documents showing that a former IAAF official received two payments totaling about $3.5 million from Qatari investors before the vote for the 2017 track world championships.

Qatar eventually lost to London but was later awarded the 2019 worlds.

The championships take place at the Khalifa International Stadium between September 27 and October 6.

The two payments from Oryx Qatar Sports Investments, an investment fund linked to the Qatari government, were made to Pamodzi Sports Marketing in October and November 2011, days before the vote.

Pamodzi was founded by Senegalese Papa Massata Diack, the son of former IAAF president Lamine Diack. — Agencies