The IMF's website says it's horseshit:
http://www.imf.org/external/np/sec/nb/1998/nb9831.htm http://www.imf.org/external/np/sec/pr/1997/pr9750.htm http://www.imf.org/external/np/sec/nb/1998/nb9810.htm http://www.imf.org/external/np/sec/nb/1997/nb9719.htm http://www.imf.org/external/np/sec/nb/1997/nb9718.htm http://www.imf.org/external/np/loi/103197.htm