(ATR) IAAF President Sebastian Coe says the sport of athletics must change or it will die.
Coe, who took over as IAAF chief last August, is immersed in a multi-faceted crisis that is expected to deepen next week. Perhaps preemptively, certainly timed for the prospects of a new year, Coe has issued what he calls "his road map for athletics to restore trust and deliver a vision for attracting more young people".
Coe acknowledges the need to bring reform to the offices of the IAAF which has suffered blows over apparent complicity in a regime of compromised drug testing for Russian athletes. Next week a new report from an independent commission that investigated the Russian scandal is expected to reveal damaging details that could send ex-IAAF President Lamine Diack to jail.
Coe says restoring institutional trust is necessary to take on his second quest as IAAF president, rejuvenating the sport. The average age of the athletics audience is 55, "not sustainable" says Coe.
"Athletics must be a sport that athletes, fans, sponsors, media and parents alike know is safe to compete in on a level playing field and one in which clean effort is rewarded and celebrated," says Coe.
Coe’s "road map" to rebuilding trust in the IAAF is presented below verbatim.
Building trust in the governing body
1. Organising the governing body so there are clear lines of responsibility.
Timeline: Began immediately after presidential election and will be completed mid-2016 with the appointment of a new CEO.
2. Forensic review of operations and finance.
Timeline: Forensic accountants from Deloitte and the leading legal firm Freshfields began work in November at the IAAF HQ. It is being overseen by Paul Deighton, former CEO of LOCOG and UK Government Minister. Delivery of report to IAAF Council in March. Completion mid-2016.
3. Greater accountability and vetting of IAAF officials.
Timeline: Vetting process to be concluded and new Commissions and Special Advisory Groups to be in place by mid-2016.
4. More transparency and communication from the independent IAAF Ethics Board (formerly Commission).
Timeline: changes to the Procedural Rules and the Statutes of the IAAF Ethics Commission were approved by IAAF Council on 26 November with immediate effect.
5. Rewriting the IAAF Constitution to make sure it is modern, fit for purpose and capable of delivering the guidance and protection that is required.
Timeline: This process is underway but a new Constitution needs the approval of the IAAF’s Member Federations. The next IAAF Congress takes place in London in August 2017.
Building trust in competition
1. Establish a separate integrity unit for athletics that ensures greater independence in reviewing key issues impacting upon the integrity of competition such as doping, corruption, betting and age manipulation.
Timeline: integrity unit to be operational before the 2016 Olympic Games.
2. Double the anti-doping budget ($4m to $8m).
Timeline: upon establishing the integrity unit in mid-2016.
3. Double the current international testing pool of athletes to one thousand athletes.
Timeline: upon establishing the integrity unit and doubling the budget in mid-2016.
4. Dedicate greater resources to investigating doping schemes in athletics involving athlete support personnel, including employing specific investigative expertise within the integrity unit.
Timeline: upon establishing the integrity unit and doubling the budget in mid-2016.
5. Ensure greater accountability of Member Federations in anti-doping and other integrity-related matters, with closer monitoring by the IAAF and sanctions to be imposed by the IAAF Council for serious non-compliance (e.g. suspension from membership or ineligibility for major championships).
Timeline: with immediate effect.
Written by Ed Hula.
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