Nairobi — Athletics Kenya (AK) has moved to calm the storm generated by Wednesday's revelations of a cash scandal related to the March 24 World Cross Country Championships in Mombasa.

Secretary General, David Okeyo, on Thursday said financial accounts relating to the event would be reconciled to resolve the crisis sparked by the freezing of grants from the world governing body.

Okeyo added that the association was working closely with the Local Organising Committee (LOC) of the event to make sure that issues raised by the International Association of Athletics Federation (IAAF) were settled.

"Iam confident that the whole matter will be sorted out soon to the satisfaction of all those involved," he said.

The IAAF announced a freeze on AK grants until Sh6.3million accruing from the money granted to LOC is accounted for. The money was part of the budget for the hosting of Cross Country Championships.

Okeyo said that AK chairman, Isaiah Kiplagat, would meet top IAAF officials in Monaco next week in talks aimed at ironing out the matter completely.

Tegla Lorupe 10Km peace race

Meanwhile, the new athletics season starts on November 3 with the first KCB Cross Country Series meeting in Nairobi. The bank is sponsoring the series to the tune of Sh2.8m.

Two other such series on November 10 and 17 in Kericho and Meru will follow.

The Tegla Lorupe 10Km Peace Road Race is scheduled for November 17 in Kapenguria. The IAAF Permit Cross-Country meeting will be staged in Portugal the following day before the Nyeri Road Running Championship takes place on November 24.

The month concludes with an IAAF Permit Cross Country meeting in Spain.

The highlight of the athletics season will be the Summer Olympic Games to be held in China from August 8-13.

Trials to pick athletes for the Olympics will be held on July 4 and 5 at Nyayo National Stadium.

One of the new events in the calendar is the Commonwealth Youth games to be held on October 12-18 in Pune, India. AK will also host the inaugural Tom O'Omuombo 15Km Road Race on October 12 in Siaya. The late O'Omuombo was the Secretary General of the National Olympic Committee of Kenya.