Qatar considers suing France's Le Monde's newspaper over report

Qatar's Athletics Federation (QAF) says it might take legal action against a French newspaper over claims that the organisation paid nearly $3.5 million to the son of former athletics chief Lamine Diack.

QAF had "no knowledge or involvement" of the money allegedly paid out by Oryx Qatar Sport Investments to a company headed by Papa Massata Diack in 2011 - just days before Qatar's failed bid to host the 2017 World Championships, the federation said.

"With regards to Le Monde's article regarding wire transfers from Oryx Qatar Sport Investments to Pamodzi Sports Consulting, the QAF can confirm that they have no relationship with Oryx Qatar Sport Investments and no knowledge or involvement of the wire transfers to the named party or individual," the statement read.

"The QAF upholds the highest standards of ethics and we followed the IAAF's rules at every stage of our 2017 and 2019 bids to host the IAAF World Championships in Athletics," it added.

"We are very disappointed to be named in these allegations. In response, legal action is being considered and will be taken if such false allegations continue to be made against the QAF."

On Friday, Le Monde published a piece that claimed to show receipts for two money transfers that were made on 13 October and 7 November 2011.

Papa Massata Diack, head of Pamodzi Sports Consulting, was banned for life from athletics earlier this year.

He denied "ever acting in such a manner" in December 2014, according to The Guardian newspaper.

The 2017 championships were eventually awarded to London.

Lamine Diack, who headed the International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF) from 1999 to 2015, has been charged by French police on suspicion of accepting bribes to cover up doping cases in Russia.

Last month the IAAF said it would not investigate bribery claims against Qatar after finding no more than "rumours" surrounding bidding for the 2017 world championships.

Qatar was later successful in bidding for the 2019 championships.

The World Athletics Championships in Doha will be held in the Khalifa International Stadium, which will also be used as a venue during the 2022 football World Cup.

Agencies contributed to this report.