INDIANAPOLIS — USA Track & Field has placed its president, Vin Lananna, on temporary leave to avoid potential conflict of interest concerns over an investigation into the awarding of the 2021 world championships to Eugene.

The Department of Justice is investigating possible racketeering, money laundering and fraud charges related to the awarding of both the Eugene championships and the 2019 championships to Doha, Qatar.

Lananna has long served as president of TrackTown USA, a nonprofit that hosts events in Eugene. He led Eugene’s efforts to land the championships, which were awarded without a bid process.

According to a USATF release Monday, “In the last 10 days USATF has learned that media reports of a federal investigation into the awarding of the 2021 World Championships are confirmed, and that TrackTown USA and its president, Mr. Lananna, were initially contacted by federal law enforcement months ago.”

USATF chairman Steve Miller said nobody at the federation believes Lananna committed wrongdoing, but the move was made to avoid any appearance of conflict of interest.

“USATF has no reason to believe TrackTown and/or Mr. Lananna have done anything wrong and understand that they have been told that they are not a target of the investigation,” Miller said in the release.

— Bulletin wire reports