World Athletics blames employees for $1.7M taken in 'systematic theft'

World Athletics says its own employees stole about $1.75 million as part of a “systematic theft” scheme that lasted several years.

The organization that oversees track and field said Thursday that an internal audit discovered suspicious activity over a period of years and that it has handed over the case information to legal authorities in Britain and Monaco. World Athletics has its headquarters in Monaco.

People familiar with the case told The Associated Press two targets of the inquiry are former chief operating officer Vineesh Kochhar and former director of broadcast James Lord.

The people spoke on condition of anonymity because they did not want their names used during an ongoing investigation.

The website 3wiresports first reported the news and the names of the targets of the inve