Sebastian Coe has won a four-year term as president of the governing body for track and field and has been given an immediate mandate to restore the image of an IAAF hierarchy grappling with a doping controversy.
The 58-year-old Coe received 115 votes to Sergei Bubka’s 92 in the election Wednesday to replace 82-year-old Lamine Diack of Senegal, who stood down after 16 years
Coe, a two-time Olympic 1,500-meter gold medallist, former Conservative Party lawmaker in Britain and chairman of the London 2012 bid and organizing committee, reportedly travelled 700,000 kilometres during the campaign and, unlike Bubka, had only nominated for the top job without the fallback option of vice-president.
“In the best traditions of everything we both believe in our sport, it was fought according to sound judgment throughout,” said Coe, who ranked the election victory as the most significant moment in his life besides becoming a father.
“Given the opportunity to work with all of you in the future of our sport, is probably the second biggest and momentous occasion in my life.”
Ukraine pole vault great Bubka, a former Olympic and world championship gold medallist and long-time world-record holder, retained his position as a vice president in a subsequent poll.
“I know athletics in the future will grow and become stronger and stronger. Nothing changed in my life. I will continue to serve athletics with dignity and big passion as I did before.”
The IAAF election, held in the lead-up to the world championships which start Saturday in Beijing, has been overshadowed by intense criticism of the world body following media reports that it has failed to act on evidence of widespread blood doping.
German broadcaster ARD and Britain’s The Sunday Times newspaper citied leaked test results from a 2011 study in an IAAF database and asserted that blood doping was rampant in the sport.
The IAAF last week denied it had tried to block publication of the study, and confirmed that 28 athletes had been caught in retests of their doping samples from the 2005 and 2007 world championships but said none of the athletes will be competing in this year’s competition.
Coe, who last week described the allegations as a “declaration of war” against the sport, has proposed a fully independent anti-doping tribunal to deal with the issues.
Diack defended the IAAF handling of doping under his watch, saying the sport’s governing body had continually introduced new measures to combat doping and was at the forefront of the anti—doping campaign in sports.
“A newspaper stole some information from our databank but our officers have reacted in an admirable way,” Diack said in his opening address at the two-day congress. “They have said, ‘This is what we have done, this is what we’re doing.’”
“We will be holding these championships in Beijing and people will say ‘80 percent of the athletes are bound to test positive,’ but no, this is totally untrue,” Diack added. “We must resolve, of course, the problem of doping. All the champions must be tested regularly and each country must have its own anti—doping body.”
There were 211 eligible member federations voting in the election, with Afghanistan and Iran absent and Gabon under suspension.
In other voting
Dahlan Al Hamad, Hamad Kalkaba Malboum and Alberto Juantorena were elected as vice-presidents along with Bubka.
Jose Maria Odriozola of Spain was elected as treasurer.
USA Track and Field president Stephanie Hightower topped the list of six elected as female individual council members.
In his last pitch to members at the congress, Coe vowed to share and widen responsibility for running the sport while committing himself fully to the role.
“I’m seeking your trust and support to lead this sport, but not to do it alone,” he said. “I’m not asking to take power. I’m asking to share power, and to spread power.
“I will always be in your corner your fight is my fight.”
Diack had not publicly endorsed either Coe or Bubka in the presidential election, but was delighted to see his successor was from “a new generation coming up and a man who has devoted his life to the sport.”
“It’s a great moment we’ve just lived,” Diack said. “We can say our sport is in safe hands that are able to carry it up to another level.”
Reaction to Sebastian Coe’s election
“We look forward to a positive and strong relationship with the new president in his avowed plans to protect the rights of the clean athlete.” World Anti-Doping Agency presidentCraig Reedie .
“USATF has had the opportunity to work especially closely with Lord Coe over the last three years, and we have been impressed with his vision for the sport, his dedication to its cause and his demonstrated effectiveness as a leader. His progressive view for how to market the sport and attract sponsors globally has the potential to truly transform athletics under his leadership.” USA Track and Field.
“We have a new generation coming up and a man who has devoted his life to the sport. For me it’s a dream come true that I can pass on the baton to Sebastian, who has been prepared for the job.” outgoing IAAF president Lamine Diack of Senegal.
“I’d like to congratulate Seb for this great, interesting campaign which is really important for our sport. I know athletics in the future will grow and become stronger and stronger.” rival candidate Sergei Bubka
“I am looking forward to working closely with him over the coming years for the good of our sport.” European Athletics president Svein Arne Hansen
“His wealth of knowledge in the field of sports governance and administration, acquired through time as an athlete, politician and a businessman, will ensure that athletics globally is in capable hands in years to come.” Athletics Australia president David Grace.
“We’ve got the right guy leading the sport through difficult times in the coming years.” UK Athletics chairman Ed Warner tells British media.
