Sebastian Coe in the hot seat — IAAF elections

The two-time Olympic 1500 metres champion secured the support of the majority of the 207 IAAF member federations who voted, winning by 115 votes to 92.

Few doubted Coe’s commitment or credentials. “I had the joys of being an Olympian… but this for me is the pinnacle”. So I will assume my duties in a sport that has firm foundations. “It has been a long and hard campaign but it has given us the chance to pause for breath, the chance to review and renew itself”. “I think it was our bad luck that we were competing during that period”, she said.

Paying tribute to the new president, Bubka said: “I know athletics will grow and become stronger”.

“This is my life”.

“I don’t know exactly why but I have three reasons”, Prokop told ZDF Television, speaking from Beijing, where the world athletics championships will take place.

Earlier this month, reports by Germany’s ARD Television and Britain’s Sunday Times newspaper alleged that hundreds of suspect doping tests were not properly addressed by the IAAF.

“We do 3,000 tests a year”.

Xi met with the world athletics head Saturday afternoon, roughly an hour before he formally opened the 15th IAAF World Championships.

Coe has been the most outspoken voice on the accusations, calling them a “declaration of war” on the sport.

The credibility of both athletics and the IAAF has come under repeated attack in recent weeks after British and German media said a leaked database of 12000 tests had revealed “extraordinary” levels of doping. Coe later echoed the sentiment.

Diack, who has been president for 16 years, admitted if the public could not believe what they saw on the track then the future of the sport was imperilled but said he was sure most athletes were clean.

Coe has highlighted the need to overhaul the athletics calendar, increase commercial revenue, empower national federations and encourage young people into the sport. “That is something …” It is not too far-fetched to suggest that half an eye might be on the top job at the worldwide Olympic Committee, which might become available at just the right time, a decade or so from now.

There were 211 eligible member federations voting in the election, with Afghanistan and Iran absent and Gabon under suspension.

In total, 211 countries were eligible to vote following the confirmation in congress of Kosovo and South Sudan as members of the IAAF.

– Jose Maria Odriozola of Spain was elected as treasurer.

Coe added: “Everything that you do in a sport is underpinned by trust”.

“I’m not asking to take power. If someone above me comes out positive when their stored samples are retested now, I would get a medal”, said Anju.

Former Olympic pole vault champion Bubka also congratulated Coe on his victory and was later elected one of four IAAF vice presidents, along with Cuban Alberto Juantorena, Qatari DahlanAl Hamad and Hamad Kalkaba Malboum of Cameroon.

“For most of us here, we will conclude (that) the birth of our children are the biggest moments in our lives”, said Coe, whose initial term will be for four years.

“I am deeply disappointed not to be able to join my dear friends from the IAAF and our very best athletes at the World Championships in Beijing”, he said in a statement.