Athletics Ireland response to second WADA report

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Athletics Ireland calls for urgent reform

Athletics Ireland says the IAAF must reform following the second independent WADA commissioned report published today January 14th.

The association’s CEO, John Foley said: “The extent of the revelations around corruption in the IAAF is massively troubling for anyone involved in athletics. The IAAF must change, and must change radically, if the sport is to have any chance of recovering from the findings of WADA’s two reports.

“Irish athletes and coaches and the athletics community here deserves that the umbrella governing body uphold the highest standards and that clearly has not been the case in recent years as evidenced by the independent commission’s work.

“To achieve this, our sport needs the credibility of the governance structures of the IAAF to be restored and this can only happen through a comprehensive change programme which the IAAF must now embark on. The anti-doping system run by Sport Ireland is credible, comprehensive and stands up to the highest scrutiny, as are the majority of national federations programmes, but it’s important that any doubts around other countries testing procedures are thoroughly investigated. Equally for the image of the sport it is our view that it is too early for Russia to be considered to compete at the Olympics in Rio.”

Athletics Ireland believes Sebastian Coe should be given time as President of the IAAF to make the changes that are clearly necessary and to do so in a visible, open and urgent manner.

“Sebastian Coe is a strong character and now needs to show that strength of character and deliver radical reform for our sport,” concluded Athletics Ireland CEO John Foley. 

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