IAAF VP Sebastian Coe Calls Doping Allegations 'Declaration Of War'

IAAF VP Sebastian Coe called the allegations leveled against the IAAF “a declaration of war,” according to Tom Peck of the London INDEPENDENT. The governing body has also called the claims “sensationalist and confusing” in a lengthy and combative statement. Coe, who is standing for the IAAF presidency later this month, said the organization must “come out fighting” and disputes the claims made by The Sunday Times and German broadcaster ARD that the IAAF “either failed to act or covered abnormal test results.” He said he took “grave exception” to the reports. Coe said, “The fightback has to start here. It is a declaration of war on my sport. There is nothing in our history of competence and integrity in drug-testing that warrants this kind of attack” (INDEPENDENT, 8/5). In London, Malcolm Moore wrote the former 1500m Olympic champion said, “To say we are sitting here and not investigating could not be further from the truth. … Every one of those [suspicious] readings will be investigated. We have got some of the highest profile names out of the sport. This hasn’t been easy. It has caused us intense embarrassment.” He described Robin Parisotto and Michael Ashenden, the two experts used by ARD and the Sunday Times, as “so-called experts” (FINANCIAL TIMES, 8/5). Also in London, Nadia Khomami wrote the IAAF “also issued a statement defending its procedures.” It said that its database “was used for building up a record of blood profiles to use for target testing, and that most was used for building up a record of blood profiles to use for target testing, and that most of the samples were taken before the introduction of the biological passport programme and cannot be used as proof of doping.” Coe: “We have consistently asked for sight of this so-called information. We would love to know what they’ve got. If you don’t trust us, hand the information to WADA [World Anti-Doping Agency]” (GUARDIAN, 8/5). REUTERS’ Martyn Herman wrote the two men bidding to lead the IAAF into a new era, Coe and fellow IAAF VP Sergey Bubka, “offered contrasting reactions.” Coe: “I don’t think anyone should underestimate the anger which is felt in our sport in the betrayal of the last few days of our sport.” Bubka said that “the sport should be more transparent.” Bubka: “Athletics is the most fundamental of all sports and the way the world sees athletics influences the way it views all sports. We cannot fail because the world would lose faith not only in athletics but in other sports and that would be a catastrophe for young people worldwide.” Coe pointed to the fact that “the governing body has a strong track record in rooting out cheats.” He said, “We have got some of the highest profile names out of the sport in the last few years” (REUTERS, 8/5).

'SO-CALLED EXPERTS': In London, Ebner & Burrows wrote Coe admitted certain countries are causing athletics “an inordinate amount of difficulty” while defending the IAAF. The tests show that one third of medals in endurance racing in the Olympic Games or world championships over a 10-year period “were won by athletes with suspicious blood readings.” In a table of the “dirtiest” countries, Russia was "on top" with 30% of the tests showing abnormal results. Coe said, “Yes, we have countries out there who are causing a problem and an inordinate amount of difficulty across our sport but to say we are not investigating or turning a blind eye to this could not be further from the truth.” When asked if that included Russia, Coe replied, “Well that is not the only country which has caused issues in the past. … These so-called experts -- give me a break.” Coe said that the IAAF “has a commission of three independent experts who have tested and checked thousands of blood samples.” Coe: “I know who I would believe” (LONDON TIMES, 8/5).

STICKING TO IT: Also in London, Josh Burrows wrote two blood-doping experts “stood by their findings.” Coe’s attack on the two scientists "came a day after an IAAF statement also tried to discredit their findings." IAAF: “The experts have never worked for the IAAF and are therefore in no position to make any comment regarding what the IAAF has done or not done in the development and implementation of its blood and urine target testing programme." Parisotto and Ashenden, who have previously worked with the Russian Anti-Doping Agency and WADA, respectively, issued a joint statement "in which they defended their findings." They wrote, "The pre-2009 data is reliable; in fact, by their own admission, the IAAF has relied on those data to extend sanctions against athletes. We followed the same procedure as IAAF expert panellists when reviewing ABP profiles, classifying results as ‘likely doping’ when we were able to confidently exclude all other potential causes or instead ‘suspicious’ when there was genuine evidence of blood manipulation however further investigation such as target testing would have been required" (LONDON TIMES, 8/5). The BBC reported the Sunday Times then issued its own statement on Wednesday standing by its story and accusing the IAAF of being "disingenuous" by dismissing its story as sensationalist after spending "just two days conducting what it describes as a 'thorough' investigation." It also questioned the governing body's level of commitment, adding, "It only employs 10 people to oversee a testing regime covering thousands of athletes across more than 200 countries. Its refusal to accept any criticism raises serious questions as to whether the IAAF is truly committed to its primary duty of policing its sport and protecting clean athletes" (BBC, 8/5). PR WEEK's John Harrington wrote Coe, who is also chairman of the Chime Communications-owned sports marketing agency CMS, "criticised the basis for the allegations in several media interviews." He said, "The use of this stuff, the sensationalizing, this is absolutely an attempt to destroy the reputation of the athletes and our sport. Nobody is remotely suggesting that news organizations don't have the right to question and challenge and kick the tires. But this selective use of this so-called information is just wrong" (PR WEEK, 8/5).

UNFOUNDED: TIMES LIVE reported Russia's anti-doping body "also promised to investigate the allegations made by German TV, saying it would report back to its global counterpart," but nevertheless said the charges were either untrue or reflected the program makers' "incompetence." Vladimir Kazarin, the coach of two Russian athletes alleged to have submitted suspicious blood samples, said that "the accusations were unfounded." He said, "If you have official positive doping tests, show us. If not, goodbye." The 62-year-old, who has coached the Russian women's athletics team since '02, "was the subject of an earlier ARD documentary on doping last year." Kazarin: "This second film is unimaginable nonsense. It is simply ridiculous" (TIMES LIVE, 8/5).