Coe To Double Iaaf Anti-doping Budget

06 Jan 2016 | tshego

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International Association of Athletics Federation (IAAF) president, Seb Coe, has said he will double the world governing body’s anti-doping budget in a bid to rebuild trust in athletics.

The announcement is part of a 10-part plan for rebuilding faith in the IAAF, which includes five steps for building trust in the governing body and another five for building trust in competition.

Since Coe was elected in August 2015 Russia has been barred from world athletics for alleged involvement in doping. His predecessor Lamine Diack is also currently the subject of a police investigation for conspiring to cover up positive drug tests in return for payment along with other IAAF officials.

He said: “I am president of an international federation which is under serious investigations and I represent a sport under intense scrutiny.”

In addition to increasing the anti-doping budget to £5.45m, Coe is set to appoint a new chief executive by the middle of 2016, establish a separate integrity unit for athletics before the 2016 Olympic Games and double the international testing pool of athletes to 1,000.

The integrity unit is one of the president’s election manifesto promises and will review issues such as doping, betting, corruption and age manipulation.

Coe commented: “My vision is to have a sport that attracts more young people. The average age of those watching track and field is 55 years old. This is not sustainable.

“The key to making that vision a reality is creating a sport that people once more trust in. 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.”