Fidal scandal rocks athletics world: sorace named londi's successor amid spy microphone fallout

A seismic scandal is shaking the athletics world, with the Italian athletics federation (Fidal) at the epicenter. The crisis centers around a meeting room bug discovered at the federation's headquarters, leading to the imminent departure of secretary general Alessandro Londi.

New era for fidal as sorace steps in

Fidal president Stefano Mei has called an emergency board meeting to formally appoint Pierluigi Sorace as Londi's replacement. Sorace is currently the organization's organizational affairs manager, overseeing technical and logistical aspects.

The swift move comes as Fidal awaits government approval for its bid to host the 2029 or 2031 World Championships in Rome. The scandal's fallout casts a shadow over these plans, with questions looming about the integrity of Fidal's leadership and decision-making processes.

Londi, who has been with Fidal since 2021, faces allegations of improper oversight of external officials managing funds for the 'Progetto Pista 2.0 - Piano di Sviluppo Talento' project, aimed at promoting grassroots and junior athletics in Italy.

As Fidal navigates this crisis, the spotlight falls on Mei and the federation's board to restore trust and credibility. The coming weeks will be crucial in determining the sport's future in Italy and the integrity of international athletics at large.