WADA and UKADA Back Coe; Bubka Gracious in Defeat

The World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) and the UK Anti-Doping Agency (UKADA) have both given their backing to new IAAF president Seb Coe after he was elected today. 

Coe beat Sergey Bubka to the post after winning 115 votes to the Ukrainian’s 92 at the IAAF Congress in Beijing. 

He will be taking the reigns of athletics at a period that is clouded by doping allegations in the sport.

Coe has a tough job on is hands to clean up the image of the sport ahead of the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio.

Both WADA and UKADA released statements today stating that they are looking forward to working with Coe to achieve this.

A statement from WADA read: “We look forward to a positive and strong relationship with the new President in his avowed plans to protect the rights of the clean athlete.”

The UKADA statement said: “We look forward to working with him [Coe] and the IAAF in protecting the sport of athletics and the clean athletes.“ 

Bubka gracious in defeat

Sergey Bubka congratulated Seb Coe on becoming the new IAAF president and thanked all the Member Ferderations who voted for him in a statement released today. 

The Ukraininan had been in confident mood going into today’s election but eventually lost out to Coe.

He will continue in his role as Vice-President of the IAAF and he has pledged his support to the sport of athletics.

“I would like to congratulate Seb Coe on his campaign, which gave us great opportunities to discuss many challenges of our sport, communicate with our Member Federations, and share our vision for the future of athletics,” Bubka said in a statement.

“From the very bottom of my heart, I would like to thank the Member Federations, who voted for my candidacy as IAAF President as well as for my Vice-Presidency role. 

“I will continue to serve athletics as I’ve done during all my life in any position our Athletics family trusts me to hold. I wish good luck to the new IAAF President and remain committed to the ideas and proposals I delivered throughout my campaign.” 

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