CAS Reinstates Lananna As USATF President

CAS Reinstates Lananna As USATF President

The Court of Arbitration for Sport has ruled that Vin Lananna should be reinstated as USATF president after being placed on leave in 2018.

Dec 5, 2019 by Kevin Sully
CAS Reinstates Lananna As USATF President

Vin Lananna looks to be getting his old job back.

The Court of Arbitration for Sport ruled on Thursday that Lananna should be reinstated as president of USATF. Originally elected in 2016, Lananna was placed on temporary administrative leave in February of 2018. 

At the time, the USATF board cited concerns after Lananna was interviewed by the Department of Justice as part of an investigation into Eugene’s successful bid to host the 2021 World Championships. Lananna headed up TrackTown USA, the group that organized the bid. 

"USATF has no reason to believe TrackTown and/or Mr. Lananna have done anything wrong and understand that they have been told that they are not a target of the investigation," USATF board chair Steve Miller said at the time. 

"But to avoid any conflict or appearance of conflict of interest in relation to the investigation, the board voted to place Mr. Lananna on temporary administrative leave until the Department of Justice investigation pertaining to TrackTown and the 2021 World Championships is resolved."

In February of 2018, Lananna was still sidelined and announced that he was challenging the board’s decision. 

In the summer of 2018, Lananna left TrackTown USA and this fall he moved to Virginia to head up the University of Virginia’s track and field and cross country programs. 

Lananna's four-year term as USATF president expires in 2020. He told Ken Goe of The Oregonian that he plans to run for a second term.