Diack Set for IAAF Re-election After Standing Unopposed

Lamine Diack is set to extend his reign as President of the International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF) into a fourth term by being re-elected unopposed at the sport’s Congress later this year.

It has been confirmed that no-one else put themselves forward to challenge him despite rumours that IAAF vice-presidents Sebastian Coe, the former double Olympic 1500 metres champion who is now the chairman of London 2012, and Sergey Bubka, the world record holder for the pole vault, had both been mentioned as possible candidates.

Diack had succeeded Primo Nebiolo after the Italian’s sudden death in 1999 and the Senegalese, who will turn 78 next month, had said when he had been re-elected for another four-year term at Osaka in 2007 that he would not stand again.

He has since changed his mind and claimed that he has been reinvigorated by the prospect of overseeing the sport up until London 2012 and beyond, adding: “I am in very good health, and have even started doing daily exercise again.

“I am very enthusiastic and optimistic about the sport, and really want to complete my mission during my last mandate as head of the IAAF. “

On August 24, the same day that Diack will be officially re-elected at the IAAF Congress in Daegu, there will also be elections for the IAAF Council, which Coe and Bubka will both be contesting.

The candidate who gains the most votes is set to be installed as the senior vice-president, putting them in prime position to take over when Diack steps down in four years time and Diack stated: “I am sure that after the Congress in Daegu we will elect a very experienced and competent team, and I especially look forward to working hard with them in the interests of athletics.”