Nairobi — The IAAF has frozen grants due to Athletics Kenya (AK) following failure to account for Sh6.3million accrued during the March 24 World Cross Country Championships in Mombasa.

In a terse email to local officials, IAAF Secretary General Pierre Weiss, pointed out that only the global athletics event held in Kenya had failed to remit its audited accounts six months after it ended.

"We have so far had four World Championships. Can you imagine that we have settled all our financial obligations with all three organisers including Stuttgart three weeks ago and Osaka," the email reads in part.

Weiss says IAAF expects to receive the amount from the Mombasa 07 Local Organising Committee (LOC) and was consequently withholding all grants due to AK until the money was settled. Weiss also took issue with LOC lamenting that they were yet to pay South African Doping Laboratory that conducted drug tests on athletes in the event terming it unacceptable.

He further dismisses a request by the LOC that IAAF contributes Sh10.4m to help them meet pending accommodation costs.

"The reason behind this request is wrong and proves the mismanagement of the LOC. IAAF cannot be held responsible for accommodation and working conditions which are typically LOC's responsibility," he added.

Weiss reminded Kenyan officials that the global athletics body gave them financial assistance to cover costs of television production.

AK council members who did not want to be named expressed fears that the withholding of grants may affect their programmes this year.

They complained that already the world body has withheld almost Sh4million due to the local governing body as reimbursement for air-tickets used during the World Youth Championships in Ostrava and the World Athletics Championships in Osaka last month.

Isaac Kalua who was CEO of the LOC said they were sorting out issues raised by IAAF and consequently the matter of the world body freezing grants should not arise.

"The contentious issue of transportation cost has been sorted. The delay was beyond us. Monies expected from the official broadcaster had not been forthcoming," he charged.

"We received part payment on Friday and immediately remitted and the balance is expected within two weeks," he said when contacted.

He said payment due to the doping company has been factored in the pending bills amounting to over Sh10million and it is this amount they requested IAAF to help in paying.

Kalua said the current situation has been caused by sudden change of the IAAF family hotel that cost the committee to incur an extra costs amounting to Sh18million during the organisation of the event.

"On behalf of the LOC, I regret the breakdown of communication that has resulted to the IAAF branding LOC as a team that has mismanaged such an important event."