Russian Federation accepts IAAF doping ban

Coe added, however, that he had sought advice from the IAAF Ethics Commission, who said the Briton could have continued in his Nike role as long as he “continually and consistently declared all my interests” and did not participate in any decisions involving the company when it came to working with the IAAF.

Earlier on Thursday, the IAAF had confirmed that the All-Russia Athletic Federation had accepted full suspension as an IAAF Member, and in the press conference Coe went on to explain how timelines have not been set in terms of the length of that suspension.

“I’m grateful for that advice but it is clear that perception and reality have become horribly mangled”, he said.

He had defended his role with Nike as recently as Sunday, saying he didn’t lobby on behalf of the company regarding IAAF’s April decision to award the 2021 world championships to the city of Eugene, Ore., where Nike was founded.

The IAAF not only slapped a temporary ban on Russian Federation, but also stripped it of the right to host the World Junior Championships and the World Race Walking Team Championships.

Coe’s decision, which he said was taken in recent weeks, shows both a willingness to compromise and that he recognizes that the IAAF has bigger fish to fry at the moment than have to face questions about its president’s outside business dealings and whether they could cloud his judgement.

Coe also announced he would resign as British Olympic Association chairman after the Rio 2016 Olympics.

There have been allegations of corruption and cover-ups at the IAAF too, with Diack being investigated over an alleged payment of more than €1m to cover up doping offences by Russian athletes.

Coe denied the leaked email -exchange between a senior executive at the firm and the 2021 World Championships bid leaders from Eugene – which is a Nike stronghold – suggested otherwise.

Sports apparel giant Nike, which paid Coe around $151,000 dollars (143,000 euros) a year to be their global ambassador, was founded in Eugene. The affair also reaches out to the IAAF as Diack is under criminal investigation in France over suspected corruption in connection with covered up positive tests, and council member Stephanie Hightower said “our entire system has failed athletes”.

Those honours, won by American decathlete Ashton Eaton and Ethiopian 1,500 metres world record holder Genzebe Dibaba, were instead announced at Thursday’s news conference following the IAAF council meeting.

Coe was speaking after an IAAF Council meeting where the issue of Russia’s doping ban was the key item on the agenda.

Bid organizers told The Sunday Times they were not given a fair and transparent process as promised by former IAAF President Lamine Diack and Coe.