Lananna began his position as USA Track & Field President less than a year agoTWITTER
USA Track & Field President VIN LANANNA was "quietly stripped of some of his authority" by the NGB's board less than a year after taking the position, according to Jeff Manning of the Portland OREGONIAN. The BOD "specifically cited his leadership of several companies and nonprofits -- including Eugene-based TrackTown USA." It "passed a two-page resolution in October that, among other things, forces" the former Univ. of Oregon track and field coach to "recuse himself from any matter that involves his companies or their competitors." Millions of dollars have "changed hands between the governing body and Lananna's numerous outside interests." Most recently, the association "pledged" $6M to Oregon 21, the organizing committee of the '21 IAAF World Championships in Eugene. USA Track & Field Chair STEVE MILLER: "Vin has been engaged in complete conflict of interest." Lananna "shrugged off the significance of the resolution, saying he was already recusing himself from matters involving his companies." Manning noted the vote "reveals deep distrust within the board" just as it attempts to "jumpstart the sport's popularity." Lananna has "not been accused of any financial impropriety," but the bureaucratic "battle of governance has real-world implications in Oregon." It also "comes on the heels of an investigation into possible bribery, blackmail and other crimes at the sport's global governing body." Meanwhile, Tracktown USA is "experiencing financial issues." One of the "nagging issues between Lananna and the track and field board," was the $2M debt TrackTown "had owed the governing body" since '15. This resolution also "bars Lananna from ever serving as direct supervisor" to USA Track & Field CEO MAX SIEGEL "as long as he's associated with his companies" (OREGONLIVE.com, 2/8).
