Athletics Australia is the first major Olympic sport to "declare it will support" Australian Olympic Committee President John Coates in his "battle to ward off a leadership challenger next month," according to Nicole Jeffery of THE AUSTRALIAN. The AA Board met on Friday and "decided unanimously" that it would back Coates rather than his challenger, 1996 Olympic field hockey Gold Medalist Danni Roche, "in what has become a bitter tussle for control of Australia’s Olympic movement." AA President Mark Arbib said that the national body would reciprocate Coates' "longstanding support for athletics." Arbib: "Our sport will never forget the efforts John went to last year to ensure Jared Tallent received his London Gold Medal prior to the Rio Games." Having the public support of the foundation Olympic sport will "certainly help" Coates’ cause as "he fights to maintain his position after 26 years unchallenged as the nation’s Olympic supremo." Hockey Australia is the "only sport that has publicly backed" Roche's bid for the presidency, although Swimming Australia President John Bertrand and Equestrian Australia Chair Judy Fasher have indicated that they are "in favour of renewal at the AOC" (THE AUSTRALIAN, 4/3).
