IAAF World Championships

BREAKING: Seb Coe Elected IAAF President

BREAKING: Seb Coe Elected IAAF President

Aug 18, 2015 by Lincoln Shryack
BREAKING: Seb Coe Elected IAAF President


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BEIJING - Former 1500 Olympic champion and World record holder Seb Coe has been elected as the new IAAF president, the governing body announced on Wednesday in Beijing. Coe won the vote over former Olympic pole vault champion Sergey Bubka of Ukraine with a tally of 115-92.
 

The election took place today as a part of the IAAF’s bi-annual Congress meeting, which includes a council, honorary members and delegates from member federations. Each member was given a vote in the election. The Congress meets before every IAAF World Championships, which take place every two years. 
 
The 58-year-old Brit will replace 82-year-old Lamine Diack of Senegal, who has held his position since 1999. Coe is credited for organizing the 2012 London Olympics, and now will face his toughest task as he works to restore the sport’s reputation in the midst of recent doping accusations alleging that no less than 1/3 of Olympic and World Championship medalists in the endurance events during the span of 2001-2012 had suspicious blood levels.
 
Coe has been adamant about cleaning up the sport throughout his candidacy, however he raised a few eyebrows when he stated that the accusations that the IAAF did not do enough to thwart doping were a “declaration of war on my sport.” 

The 2015 IAAF World Championships start this Saturday in Beijing. 

UPDATE:
Statement by TrackTown USA President Vin Lananna...
“With Seb Coe and Sergey Bubka, the future of our sport was presented with two outstanding candidates as the potential next leader of the IAAF. I congratulate Lord Coe on his election as IAAF President, and I am excited to continue to work with him on the important projects that our organization began with President Diack.

The worldwide family of athletics will be welcome in the United States and the state of Oregon for the IAAF World Indoor Championships Portland 2016 and the IAAF World Championships Eugene 2021. Together with our friends at the IAAF and USA Track & Field, I am confident that we will create a lasting legacy for the sport.”