Former 1500m Olympic champion Sebastian Coe has been elected as the new president of world athletics governing body, the IAAF.
The 58-year-old, who was chairman of London 2012 organising committee, beat Sergey Bubka, a former Ukrainian Olympic pole vault gold medallist, by 115 votes to 92.
Coe will replace Lamine Diack, an 82-year old former Senegalese long-jumper, who has held the position since 1999.
His first task in charge of the IAAF will be to address a series of recent doping allegations against various athletes form around the globe. One of the key policy pledges in his manifesto was to “move towards an external, fully Independent Anti-doping Agency to deal with doping violations in international level Athletics”.
After hearing of his appointment, Coe said:
“[I’m] delighted and humbled by the confidence shown in me by the IAAF family – thank you, now the hard work begins”
Bubka congratulated Coe on his victory and said that he remains fully committed to athletics and the IAAF.
