World Athletics’ decision to award prize money at the Paris Olympics goes against the Olympic spirit, says the head of cycling’s governing body.

World Athletics will become the first federation to offer prize money at an Olympics this summer, which will see Gold medallists in athletics events earn $50,000 (£39,400).

Given the Olympics’ origins as an amateur sports event, the International Olympic Committee (IOC) does not award prize money but distributes funding through international federations (IF) and national Olympic committees (NOC).

World Athletics’ move, which will be extended to silver and bronze medallists for the 2028 Games, was widely praised by former athletes when it was announced by its president Lord Coe.