The president of Formula One¡¯s governing body, Mohammed Ben Sulayem, faced accusations on Tuesday that he had sought to prevent circuit approval for last year¡¯s showcase Las Vegas Grand Prix.

The BBC said the claim, made by a whistleblower, appeared in a report it had seen and which was submitted by the FIA¡¯s compliance officer to an ethics committee.

A spokesperson for the governing body said the circuit approval had followed FIA protocol, from a sporting and safety perspective, regarding inspection and certification.