The fallout from athletics’ corruption and doping scandals continued on Wednesday as Nestlé terminated their sponsorship of the IAAF’s global Kids Athletics scheme a year early because they felt the association was damaging their public image.

It is another blow to athletics’ global governing body. Last month Adidas reportedly pulled out of a contract worth about €7.2 million a year which was due to end in 2020, although its logo is still on the IAAF’s website.

In a statement Nestlé, sponsors of the IAAF since 2012, said: “We have decided to end our partnership with the IAAF Kids program with immediate effect. This is our decision given the negative public perception regarding corruption allegations and doping in sport against the IAAF. We believe that this could adversely affect our reputation and image and therefore have terminated the existing contract.

“We have the IAAF informed of our decision and are waiting for a formal confirmation that our partnership has ended.”

Nestlé’s decision follows several senior IAAF officials being banned from the sport after being accused of extorting €450,000 from the Russian marathon runner Liliya Shobukhova to cover up her doping violations.

The IAAF has not yet commented on the news but the Guardian newspaper understands it was told last week. Nestlé have demanded their logos to be taken off all IAAF websites.

(Guardian service)