Sweeping Change in Governance on Table for Athletics Federation

(ATR) Sebastian Coe admits that the reputation of Athletics has been severely tarnished by doping scandals and corruption, but the IAAF president is optimistic his progressive reform proposals will provide the framework for a huge leap in the right direction.

A 27-page booklet titled "Time for Change" was distributed to the more than 200 members of the International Association of Athletics Federations convening this week in Monaco. The guide outlines four major governance structure reforms which will be voted upon at Saturday’s extraordinary congress. The four-point reforms plan was ratified by the IAAF Council during the Rio 2016 Games.

Coe addressed media emphasizing the importance of positive, sustainable change for the sport following the IAAF’s two-day Council meeting at the Fairmont Hotel Monte Carlo.

"The governance structure reform proposals provide the required checks and balance to insure our sport is protected in the future," Coe told reporters in Monaco.

"I do not ever want the sport to return to the grotesque stories even over the last few days that we’ve been waking up to," he said, referring to the latest round of allegations made by German and French media that the wanted son of former IAAF president Lamine Diack took millions of dollars from six Russian athletes to cover up adverse doping results. Lamine Diack is under house arrest in France. French authorities said in January that he admittedto covering up positive doping tests by Russian athletes.

"The reforms create the strongest set of foundations upon which we need to build new fans, to create new formats, find new partners and frankly, to create new and exciting events," said the IAAF chief.

"We must engage with young people, we must find new fans and that is something that sits at the heart of the strategy that our chief executive Olivier Gers introduced to Council and was unanimously supported two days ago.

"Perhaps the most game-changing of the four reforms on the table Saturday involves the implementation of an independent integrity unit to handle anti-doping issues and provide disciplinary functions.

"The integrity unit is a very important chunk of the reform proposals that we will be voting on Saturday," Coe said.

"We know that the integrity unit itself will manage all doping and non anti-doping integrity matters and in conjunction with the new discipline committee, the tribunal will hear and decide all breaches and impose sanctions.

"It will take the responsibility away from national level member federations and fundamentally do it quicker," Coe said. "The length of time (with doping cases) has also caused us reputational damage."

Coe also highlighted the IAAF launch of a secure online doping portal this past week. Offered in six languages, the portal is a new option for anyone to offer anonymous tips and information as the federation attempts to combat doping cheats.

"This is an important platform and I can report that within the first 12 hours we had 14 leads and within the first 48 hours we had a total of 43 leads," Coe said.

Additional reforms include granting a greater voice for athletes, a more equal gender balance of the IAAF governance structure and redefined roles and responsibilities of the IAAF Council and Executive Board, including empowering member federations.

"At the beginning of this week, our athletes issued a statement in support of the portal and in support of the reforms," Coe said referring to the IAAF Athletes Commission. "I am delighted to say that the statement reflects absolutely and quintessentially the direction we must take."

Nine-time Olympic champion Usain Bolt offered his positive opinion on Coe’s proposed changes. The Jamaican superstar is in the running for his sixth IAAF Athlete of the Year Award on Friday night in Monaco.

"Seb Coe is trying to make track and field more transparent to the media so everyone can see what’s happening and no one person is fully in control – so for me that’s a big move, and bold move for him as the IAAF president," Bolt told reporters.

"I think it will also help the sport to make people feel more comfortable and trust the sport more."

Written by Brian Pinelliin Monaco.

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