Athletes will be able to participate in the women's category for world ranking events like the World Championships only if they pass a one-off gene test as an attempt to safeguard the integrity of women's sport, World Athletics announced on Wednesday (July 30). The one-off test for the SRY gene that helps in establishing biological sex can be done through a cheek swab or blood sample.&nbsp;The test protocol will be monitored by member federations and the new rules take effect on September 1, before the September 13-21 World Athletics Championships in Tokyo.&nbsp;"It is really important in a sport that is permanently trying to attract more women that they enter a sport believing there is no biological glass ceiling," World Athletics President Sebastian Coe said in a statement. "The test to confirm biological sex is a very important step in ensuring this is the case. We are saying, at elite level, for you to compete in the female category, you have to be biologically female."It was always very clear to me and the World Athletics Council that gender cannot trump biology. We particularly want to thank our member federations for their support and commitment in the implementation of these new regulations." &nbsp;Athletics has debated qualification standards to participate in women's competitions for years, with uncertainty surrounding biological benefits for transgender competitors and individuals with differences in sex development (DSD). World Athletics excludes transgender women who have experienced male puberty from women's competitions, while it forces female DSD athletes who produce high levels of testosterone to reduce them in order to qualify.&nbsp;Earlier this year, a working group determined that those regulations were not stringent enough, with a pre-clearance test for the SRY gene being one of a number of recommendations the group put forward for new regulations. SRY gene confirms the existence of the Y chromosome, and it is a indicator for biological sex.&nbsp;The test was also sanctioned by World Boxing in May when they made sex testing compulsory for all boxers. Earlier this month, the European Court supported a 2023 judgment that double 800 metres Olympic champion Caster Semenya's challenge of an appeal to a Swiss Federal Tribunal to a Swiss law that excluded her from competition had not been heard adequately. Semenya was challenging World Athletics rules that female athletes with DSDs medically lower their testosterone levels.

Gene test now mandatory for female athletes says World Athletics

Athletes will be able to participate in the women's category for world ranking events like the World Championships only if they pass a one-off gene test as an attempt to safeguard the integrity of women's sport, World Athletics announced on Wednesday (July 30). The one-off test for the SRY gene that helps in establishing biological sex can be done through a cheek swab or blood sample. The test protocol will be monitored by member federations and the new rules take effect on September 1, before the September 13-21 World Athletics Championships in Tokyo. "It is really important in a sport that is permanently trying to attract more women that they enter a sport believing there is no biological glass ceiling," World Athletics President Sebastian Coe said in a statement. "The test to confirm biological sex is a very important step in ensuring this is the case. We are saying, at elite level, for you to compete in the female category, you have to be biologically female. "It was always very clear to me and the World Athletics Council that gender cannot trump biology. We particularly want to thank our member federations for their support and commitment in the implementation of these new regulations." Athletics has debated qualification standards to participate in women's competitions for years, with uncertainty surrounding biological benefits for transgender competitors and individuals with differences in sex development (DSD). World Athletics excludes transgender women who have experienced male puberty from women's competitions, while it forces female DSD athletes who produce high levels of testosterone to reduce them in order to qualify. Earlier this year, a working group determined that those regulations were not stringent enough, with a pre-clearance test for the SRY gene being one of a number of recommendations the group put forward for new regulations. SRY gene confirms the existence of the Y chromosome, and it is a indicator for biological sex. The test was also sanctioned by World Boxing in May when they made sex testing compulsory for all boxers. Earlier this month, the European Court supported a 2023 judgment that double 800 metres Olympic champion Caster Semenya's challenge of an appeal to a Swiss Federal Tribunal to a Swiss law that excluded her from competition had not been heard adequately. Semenya was challenging World Athletics rules that female athletes with DSDs medically lower their testosterone levels.

The once-in-a-lifetime test for the SRY gene, which helps in determining biological sex, can be done through a cheek swab or blood test

'Gene test now mandatory for female athletes', says World Athletics

Sebastian Coe has been re-elected as World Athletics President for a third and final term. Britain's double Olympic 1500 meters gold-medalist first elected in 2015 stood unopposed to the World Athletics Congress.

Sebastian Coe re-elected for final term as World Athletics President | World News | WION

Sebastian Coe, Britain's legendary Olympian and the president of World Athletics spoke exclusively to WION's Digvijay Singh Deo on Neeraj Chopra's win at Tokyo 2020.&nbsp;

ALSO READ:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/tokyo-paralympics-pci-chief-deepa-malik-elated-as-paddler-bhavina-assures-india-medal-408845" hreflang="en">Tokyo Paralympics: PCI chief Deepa Malik elated as paddler Bhavina assures India medal</a>

During the interview, Sebastian Coe revealed that he was emotional when Neeraj Chopra won the Gold in the javelin throw event at the Tokyo Olympics.&nbsp;

"I was emotional, my grandfather was Indian, my mother was born in Delhi so I have strong Indian heritage and family living in India. So for me that (Neeraj Chopra winning gold) was a really important moment. I recognise that not just important for Indian sports, but emotionally it was important for me aswell," Sebastian Coe said.&nbsp;

The two-time Olympic Gold medalist was further asked if he could give a piece of advice to&nbsp;Neeraj Chopra. To which he replied: "It is very important that he remains grounded and that he remains present and that he continues to do all the things in the environment that he has done them that has proven so successful to him and Indian sports."

"He doesn't have long to wait for a World Championship, he literally has a few months because next year we will already have world championships in Eugene and that is I am sure is somewhere he will hope he is able to shine. It is a new stadium and it will be a fantastic championships. But he also has to (play in) Commonwealth Games next year as well. So there is an awful lot for him to look forward to," he added.&nbsp;

Coe was hopeful that Chopra could build on the thought that he can win at the highest level. He went on to add that Neeraj Chopra's win at the Olympics will give other Indian athletes, irrespective of their events, the "confidence and belief" to achieve what he has done and win an Olympic title for India.&nbsp;

Sebastian Coe, Britain's legendary Olympian and the president of World Athletics spoke exclusively to WION's Digvijay Singh Deo on Neeraj Chopra's win at Tokyo 2020.

Sebastian Coe, Britain's legendary Olympian and the president of World Athletics spoke exclusively to WION's Digvijay Singh Deo on Neeraj Chopra's win at Tokyo 2020. ALSO READ: Tokyo Paralympics: PCI chief Deepa Malik elated as paddler Bhavina assures India medal During the interview, Sebastian Coe revealed that he was emotional when Neeraj Chopra won the Gold in the javelin throw event at the Tokyo Olympics. "I was emotional, my grandfather was Indian, my mother was born in Delhi so I have strong Indian heritage and family living in India. So for me that (Neeraj Chopra winning gold) was a really important moment. I recognise that not just important for Indian sports, but emotionally it was important for me aswell," Sebastian Coe said. The two-time Olympic Gold medalist was further asked if he could give a piece of advice to Neeraj Chopra. To which he replied: "It is very important that he remains grounded and that he remains present and that he continues to do all the things in the environment that he has done them that has proven so successful to him and Indian sports." "He doesn't have long to wait for a World Championship, he literally has a few months because next year we will already have world championships in Eugene and that is I am sure is somewhere he will hope he is able to shine. It is a new stadium and it will be a fantastic championships. But he also has to (play in) Commonwealth Games next year as well. So there is an awful lot for him to look forward to," he added. Coe was hopeful that Chopra could build on the thought that he can win at the highest level. He went on to add that Neeraj Chopra's win at the Olympics will give other Indian athletes, irrespective of their events, the "confidence and belief" to achieve what he has done and win an Olympic title for India.

WION EXCLUSIVE: 'I was emotional': World Athletics president Sebastian Coe on Neeraj Chopra winning Gold

World Athletics President Sebastian Coe said he offered his help on the night Krystsina Tsimanouskaya was ejected from the&nbsp;Olympics&nbsp;by officials of her own Belarussian team and that the governing body will be looking at the implications of the extraordinary events.

Tsimanouskaya was ordered to fly home after criticising officials after she refused to take part in the 4x400metres relay but refused at the airport in Tokyo. She sought protection from Japanese police before later gaining asylum in Poland.

ALSO READ:&nbsp;<a href="Tokyo Olympics 2020 closing day, LIVE UPDATES: Final events underway followed by ceremony">Tokyo Olympics 2020 closing day, LIVE UPDATES: Final events underway followed by ceremony</a>

A Belarussian coach and official were subsequently kicked out of the Games by the International Olympic Committee (IOC) and its president Thomas Bach called Tsimanouskaya's case "deplorable". However, her sport's governing body had been silent on it until Sunday, when Coe was asked about the matter at a news conference to review his sport at the&nbsp;Olympics.

"The night that story broke I did speak to the Belarus Federation and the overture was very clear and it was 'was there anything I was in a position to do to help?'" Coe said.

"I needed to understand a bit more about what was unfolding. I think the three constituent parts were trying to understand it – the Federation was and I think the International Olympic Committee were trying to understand it through the National Olympic Committee. When I spoke to the Federation then and subsequently were still trying to piece it together."

The 24-year-old Tsimanouskaya said she did not feel safe about returning to Belarus, which is under Western sanctions after a brutal crackdown on political opposition.

"The welfare of the athlete was very clearly the responsibility of the International Olympic Committee here," Coe said. "But the broader implication, because she is from the World Athletics family, is something we need to look at and we will."

In June, World Athletics removed the 2022 World Race Walking Team Championships from Minsk amid uncertainty over diplomatic relations in Belarus and ongoing travel restrictions.

World Athletics President Sebastian Coe said he offered his help on the night Krystsina Tsimanouskaya was ejected from the Olympics by officials of her own Belarussian team and that the governing body will be looking at the implications of the extraordinary events.

World Athletics President Sebastian Coe said he offered his help on the night Krystsina Tsimanouskaya was ejected from the Olympics by officials of her own Belarussian team and that the governing body will be looking at the implications of the extraordinary events. Tsimanouskaya was ordered to fly home after criticising officials after she refused to take part in the 4x400metres relay but refused at the airport in Tokyo. She sought protection from Japanese police before later gaining asylum in Poland. ALSO READ: Tokyo Olympics 2020 closing day, LIVE UPDATES: Final events underway followed by ceremony A Belarussian coach and official were subsequently kicked out of the Games by the International Olympic Committee (IOC) and its president Thomas Bach called Tsimanouskaya's case "deplorable". However, her sport's governing body had been silent on it until Sunday, when Coe was asked about the matter at a news conference to review his sport at the Olympics. "The night that story broke I did speak to the Belarus Federation and the overture was very clear and it was 'was there anything I was in a position to do to help?'" Coe said. "I needed to understand a bit more about what was unfolding. I think the three constituent parts were trying to understand it – the Federation was and I think the International Olympic Committee were trying to understand it through the National Olympic Committee. When I spoke to the Federation then and subsequently were still trying to piece it together." The 24-year-old Tsimanouskaya said she did not feel safe about returning to Belarus, which is under Western sanctions after a brutal crackdown on political opposition. "The welfare of the athlete was very clearly the responsibility of the International Olympic Committee here," Coe said. "But the broader implication, because she is from the World Athletics family, is something we need to look at and we will." In June, World Athletics removed the 2022 World Race Walking Team Championships from Minsk amid uncertainty over diplomatic relations in Belarus and ongoing travel restrictions.

Tokyo Olympics: World Athletics to look at 'implications' of Krystsina Tsimanouskaya case, says Sebastian Coe

World Athletics president Sebastian Coe said on Friday he is confident the Tokyo&nbsp;Olympics&nbsp;will go ahead as planned this year with COVID-19 vaccines giving athletes greater access to training and competitions in the build-up.

The&nbsp;Olympics&nbsp;were postponed in March last year following the start of the pandemic but Coe said he believes athletes are in a different frame of mind heading into the July 23-Aug. 8 Games.

"Firstly, there's the vaccine and we were a long way away from even thinking about that at this stage last year," the Briton told Reuters.

"I know at this stage (last year) athletes were beginning to find it really difficult to maintain their training regimes and competitions were beginning to slide off the radar screen. Now they're having greater access to training and competitions."

Critics of Japan's plan to hold the&nbsp;Olympics&nbsp;despite the fourth wave of coronavirus infections submitted a petition on Friday signed by 350,000 people over nine days calling for the Games to be canceled.

"I can understand bystanders looking at this and being fearful - but that just reinforces for us the need to make sure people do understand sport actually is good at this," Coe said.

"I want to reassure the Japanese people that we take this seriously, with a rigorous focus on the COVID protocols. We've staged events with crowds in many places in the world... done it successfully and haven't produced a great spike in numbers.

"We recognize sport does play a really important part in our communities. There are billions of people across the globe that want the Games to take place, the athletes and broadcasters want the Games to take place."

Coe said the Games would have a different feel with fans not allowed in from abroad, while a decision on Japanese-based spectators has yet to be made.

"Everybody wants stadiums full of noisy, passionate people - but if the Games have to take place without crowds, or certainly with fewer people in stadiums, the athletes, the world of sport, accepts that now," Sebastian&nbsp;Coe added.

World Athletics president Sebastian Coe said on Friday he is confident the Tokyo Olympics will go ahead as planned this year with COVID-19 vaccines giving athletes greater access to training and competitions in the build-up.

World Athletics president Sebastian Coe said on Friday he is confident the Tokyo Olympics will go ahead as planned this year with COVID-19 vaccines giving athletes greater access to training and competitions in the build-up. The Olympics were postponed in March last year following the start of the pandemic but Coe said he believes athletes are in a different frame of mind heading into the July 23-Aug. 8 Games. "Firstly, there's the vaccine and we were a long way away from even thinking about that at this stage last year," the Briton told Reuters. "I know at this stage (last year) athletes were beginning to find it really difficult to maintain their training regimes and competitions were beginning to slide off the radar screen. Now they're having greater access to training and competitions." Critics of Japan's plan to hold the Olympics despite the fourth wave of coronavirus infections submitted a petition on Friday signed by 350,000 people over nine days calling for the Games to be canceled. "I can understand bystanders looking at this and being fearful - but that just reinforces for us the need to make sure people do understand sport actually is good at this," Coe said. "I want to reassure the Japanese people that we take this seriously, with a rigorous focus on the COVID protocols. We've staged events with crowds in many places in the world... done it successfully and haven't produced a great spike in numbers. "We recognize sport does play a really important part in our communities. There are billions of people across the globe that want the Games to take place, the athletes and broadcasters want the Games to take place." Coe said the Games would have a different feel with fans not allowed in from abroad, while a decision on Japanese-based spectators has yet to be made. "Everybody wants stadiums full of noisy, passionate people - but if the Games have to take place without crowds, or certainly with fewer people in stadiums, the athletes, the world of sport, accepts that now," Sebastian Coe added.

Sebastian Coe says COVID-19 vaccine a big factor in making Tokyo Games happen

World Athletics president Sebastian Coe insisted on Sunday, May 9&nbsp;that this summer's Tokyo&nbsp;Olympics&nbsp;could be held in a safe environment.

Opinion surveys have shown that most Japanese oppose holding the Games this summer due to worries about the pandemic.

Speaking at a press conference in Tokyo on Sunday (May 10), Coe sought to reassure people that the measures taken by the organizing bodies mean that the Games can go ahead safely.

"We are very empathetic to the need to be fully recognizing that communities around the world are inevitably nervous about many things related to COVID," he said.

"Look, we are all family people, we have children, we have grandchildren, we have elderly and sometimes vulnerable relatives, so I understand this, I completely understand this.

"What I would say though, as president of World Athletics as respectfully as I can, is that we take those concerns very, very seriously. The COVID protocols, particularly that World Athletics have developed over the last year and a half by our health and science teams who are extremely good at this, have consistently helped deliver events in a safe and secure environment."

Coe pointed to the last weekend's world relay championships in Poland as an example of how the measures are working, with no positive COVID tests reported from over 700 athletes taking part.

Coe was speaking on a day when hundreds of athletes, including U.S. sprinter Justin Gatlin, participated in a test event at the Olympic Stadium, as organizers fine-tuned operations and practiced COVID-19 countermeasures with under three months to go before the Tokyo Games begin.

No spectators were present in the stadium, where the&nbsp;Olympics&nbsp;opening and closing ceremonies will be held, as Tokyo remains under a state of emergency to tame a rise in coronavirus infections.

Despite the state of emergency, organizers have operated more than eleven test events since last month with no reported coronavirus cases resulting.

World Athletics president Sebastian Coe insisted on Sunday, May 9 that this summer's Tokyo Olympics could be held in a safe environment. Opinion surveys have shown that most Japanese oppose holding the Games this summer due to worries about the pandemic.

World Athletics president Sebastian Coe insisted on Sunday, May 9 that this summer's Tokyo Olympics could be held in a safe environment. Opinion surveys have shown that most Japanese oppose holding the Games this summer due to worries about the pandemic. Speaking at a press conference in Tokyo on Sunday (May 10), Coe sought to reassure people that the measures taken by the organizing bodies mean that the Games can go ahead safely. "We are very empathetic to the need to be fully recognizing that communities around the world are inevitably nervous about many things related to COVID," he said. "Look, we are all family people, we have children, we have grandchildren, we have elderly and sometimes vulnerable relatives, so I understand this, I completely understand this. "What I would say though, as president of World Athletics as respectfully as I can, is that we take those concerns very, very seriously. The COVID protocols, particularly that World Athletics have developed over the last year and a half by our health and science teams who are extremely good at this, have consistently helped deliver events in a safe and secure environment." Coe pointed to the last weekend's world relay championships in Poland as an example of how the measures are working, with no positive COVID tests reported from over 700 athletes taking part. Coe was speaking on a day when hundreds of athletes, including U.S. sprinter Justin Gatlin, participated in a test event at the Olympic Stadium, as organizers fine-tuned operations and practiced COVID-19 countermeasures with under three months to go before the Tokyo Games begin. No spectators were present in the stadium, where the Olympics opening and closing ceremonies will be held, as Tokyo remains under a state of emergency to tame a rise in coronavirus infections. Despite the state of emergency, organizers have operated more than eleven test events since last month with no reported coronavirus cases resulting.

Sebastian Coe says, athletics' governing body takes Olympic health concerns 'very, very seriously'

Sebastian Coe, the head of World Athletics, was voted in as a member of the International Olympic Committee on Friday after being turned down several times.

Coe, the two-time Olympic 1,500 metres champion for Britain who became head of athletics' world governing body in 2015, was blocked from membership as recently as December over a conflict of interest.

But Coe changed his role at the marketing company he is currently running as managing director to a passive position, thus paving the way to IOC membership.

Coe's belated entry into the IOC club is significant because he has been mentioned as a potential future president of the Olympic movement.

Voting at the IOC Session, held virtually because of the coronavirus pandemic, saw 85 valid votes with six abstentions: 77 voted to approve Coe's membership, with eight voting against.

"Thank you to all of you who voted for our sport, our federation today," said Coe.

"I look forward, our whole sport looks forward, to working even more closely with all of you in performing and building upon all sports because at this time, of all times, the need for community in elite sport to thrive and flourish is probably never more important.

"Thank you very much for the position today."

As Coe signed his IOC oath, IOC president Thomas Bach let slip a greeting.

"Finally, welcome!" Bach said.

Also approved for individual IOC membership were Princess Reema Bandar al-Saud, Saudi Arabia's ambassador to the United States, former Croatian president Kolinda Grabar-Kitarovic, Cuban Olympic Committee (COC) board member Maria de la Caridad Colon Ruenes and acting Mongolian National Olympic Committee president Battushig Batbold.

Sebastian Coe, the head of World Athletics, was voted in as a member of the International Olympic Committee on Friday after being turned down several times. Coe, the two-time Olympic 1,500 metres champion for Britain who became head of athletics' world governing body in 2015, was blocked from membership as recently as December over a conflict of interest.

Sebastian Coe, the head of World Athletics, was voted in as a member of the International Olympic Committee on Friday after being turned down several times. Coe, the two-time Olympic 1,500 metres champion for Britain who became head of athletics' world governing body in 2015, was blocked from membership as recently as December over a conflict of interest. But Coe changed his role at the marketing company he is currently running as managing director to a passive position, thus paving the way to IOC membership. Coe's belated entry into the IOC club is significant because he has been mentioned as a potential future president of the Olympic movement. Voting at the IOC Session, held virtually because of the coronavirus pandemic, saw 85 valid votes with six abstentions: 77 voted to approve Coe's membership, with eight voting against. "Thank you to all of you who voted for our sport, our federation today," said Coe. "I look forward, our whole sport looks forward, to working even more closely with all of you in performing and building upon all sports because at this time, of all times, the need for community in elite sport to thrive and flourish is probably never more important. "Thank you very much for the position today." As Coe signed his IOC oath, IOC president Thomas Bach let slip a greeting. "Finally, welcome!" Bach said. Also approved for individual IOC membership were Princess Reema Bandar al-Saud, Saudi Arabia's ambassador to the United States, former Croatian president Kolinda Grabar-Kitarovic, Cuban Olympic Committee (COC) board member Maria de la Caridad Colon Ruenes and acting Mongolian National Olympic Committee president Battushig Batbold.

World Athletics chief Coe approved as IOC member

Global athletics competitions in 2020 will look very different from what we have been used to so far, according to Lord Sebastian Coe, the head of the governing body of World Athletics.

In an exclusive conversation with WION, two-time Olympic champion Lord Coe said that the safety of athletes is the most important guiding principle that World Athletics will follow as it plots a return to action in the COVID-19 era.

A new schedule for the Diamond League season was announced earlier this week with the aim to begin in Monaco in August and continue till October.

"Meeting Directors will have to take their own decisions about how to get athletes to competition in a safe and secure manner that doesn't risk infection", said Lord Coe.

"Each event will have to decide on a format for competition with these safety considerations two months in advance. Everybody is waiting to return to competition and organisers will have to be as creative and ingenious as possible in the current circumstances", he added.

Even though fans are unlikely to be allowed inside stadiums to witness live sport anytime soon, Lord Coe stressed that it was still important to return to competition for the sake of the athletes.

"We have to be guided by what governments, the WHO and local authorities are telling us, but we also have to make our own decisions and make sensible compromises. There may be a moment when a sport decides that it is ready to stage events even if it is not always with the approval of those authorities. We will be respectful, but we have to make decisions in the best interest of our sport and our athletes".

World Athletics was also one of the bodies that put pressure on the International Olympic Committee to postpone this summer's Tokyo Games in March. The IOC was criticised for its late response, but Lord Coe said that as the former chief of the London 2012 Olympics, he was able to appreciate how difficult a decision it was. He also refused to speculate on whether on Tokyo Olympics can be held in 2021 without a vaccine or cure for the coronavirus.

"Speculating about something that is over a year away is unhelpful. We are trying to give the athletes some clarity about the calendar and speculation from scientists and medical experts does not help. I hope that the pandemic will be contained so that we don't have to cancel the Games", he concluded. 
&nbsp;

Global athletics competitions in 2020 will look very different from what we have been used to so far, according to Lord Sebastian Coe, the head of the governing body of World Athletics.

Global athletics competitions in 2020 will look very different from what we have been used to so far, according to Lord Sebastian Coe, the head of the governing body of World Athletics. In an exclusive conversation with WION, two-time Olympic champion Lord Coe said that the safety of athletes is the most important guiding principle that World Athletics will follow as it plots a return to action in the COVID-19 era. A new schedule for the Diamond League season was announced earlier this week with the aim to begin in Monaco in August and continue till October. "Meeting Directors will have to take their own decisions about how to get athletes to competition in a safe and secure manner that doesn't risk infection", said Lord Coe. "Each event will have to decide on a format for competition with these safety considerations two months in advance. Everybody is waiting to return to competition and organisers will have to be as creative and ingenious as possible in the current circumstances", he added. Even though fans are unlikely to be allowed inside stadiums to witness live sport anytime soon, Lord Coe stressed that it was still important to return to competition for the sake of the athletes. "We have to be guided by what governments, the WHO and local authorities are telling us, but we also have to make our own decisions and make sensible compromises. There may be a moment when a sport decides that it is ready to stage events even if it is not always with the approval of those authorities. We will be respectful, but we have to make decisions in the best interest of our sport and our athletes". World Athletics was also one of the bodies that put pressure on the International Olympic Committee to postpone this summer's Tokyo Games in March. The IOC was criticised for its late response, but Lord Coe said that as the former chief of the London 2012 Olympics, he was able to appreciate how difficult a decision it was. He also refused to speculate on whether on Tokyo Olympics can be held in 2021 without a vaccine or cure for the coronavirus. "Speculating about something that is over a year away is unhelpful. We are trying to give the athletes some clarity about the calendar and speculation from scientists and medical experts does not help. I hope that the pandemic will be contained so that we don't have to cancel the Games", he concluded.

Seb Coe: Athletics will look very different in 2020

One of IAAF President Sebastian Coe&#39;s closest aides, Nick Davies, on Wednesday had his suspension extended until January 31 as the investigation continues into corruption at the heart of track and field&#39;s world governing body linked to the Russian doping scandal.

The IAAF Ethics Board provisionally suspended former deputy general secretary Davies, his wife and IAAF project manager Jane Boulter-Davies and medical manager Pierre-Yves Garnier from holding any office at the IAAF pending investigation of potential breaches of the IAAF&#39;s Code of Ethics.

The board &quot;extended the orders for provisional suspension against each of the three individuals identified above until 31 January 2017 to allow for the conclusion of the disciplinary investigative process, including any hearing ensuing from the investigations&quot;.

&quot;Each of the three individuals continue to enjoy the presumption of innocence and the extension of the orders for provisional suspension should not be interpreted as any departure from the principle that each individual is to be considered innocent until the conclusion of the disciplinary investigative process.&quot;

The allegations stem from an email sent by Davies to the son of Lamine Diack -- whom Coe succeeded as IAAF president last August -- before the 2013 World Athletics Championships in Moscow which outlined a plan to delay naming Russian cheats to avoid bad publicity.

In the email to Papa Massata Diack, a marketing consultant, Davies suggested a &quot;very secret&quot; five-point plan to manage media reaction to doping positives.

Lamine Diack is now under house arrest in France while Papa Massata is wanted by French authorities but in hiding in his native Senegal.

(AFP)&nbsp; 
&nbsp;

The ethics board had provisionally suspended IAAF President's closest aides from holding any office pending investigation

One of IAAF President Sebastian Coe's closest aides, Nick Davies, on Wednesday had his suspension extended until January 31 as the investigation continues into corruption at the heart of track and field's world governing body linked to the Russian doping scandal. The IAAF Ethics Board provisionally suspended former deputy general secretary Davies, his wife and IAAF project manager Jane Boulter-Davies and medical manager Pierre-Yves Garnier from holding any office at the IAAF pending investigation of potential breaches of the IAAF's Code of Ethics. The board "extended the orders for provisional suspension against each of the three individuals identified above until 31 January 2017 to allow for the conclusion of the disciplinary investigative process, including any hearing ensuing from the investigations". "Each of the three individuals continue to enjoy the presumption of innocence and the extension of the orders for provisional suspension should not be interpreted as any departure from the principle that each individual is to be considered innocent until the conclusion of the disciplinary investigative process." The allegations stem from an email sent by Davies to the son of Lamine Diack -- whom Coe succeeded as IAAF president last August -- before the 2013 World Athletics Championships in Moscow which outlined a plan to delay naming Russian cheats to avoid bad publicity. In the email to Papa Massata Diack, a marketing consultant, Davies suggested a "very secret" five-point plan to manage media reaction to doping positives. Lamine Diack is now under house arrest in France while Papa Massata is wanted by French authorities but in hiding in his native Senegal. (AFP)

Athletics: IAAF extends ban on Coe's aide in corruption probe

The International Olympic Committee vice-president John Coates said on Saturday the committee is unlikely to overturn world athletics&#39; ban on the Russian track and field team at the Rio de Janeiro Games. 
 
The International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF) on Friday nanimously upheld its ban on Russian athletes competing at international competitions due to state-sponsored doping. 
 
Russia has cried foul over the ban and President Vladimir Putin said he hoped for an &quot;appropriate response&quot; from the IOC. 
 
Coates, also president of the Australian Olympic Committee, said he would be &quot;very surprised&quot; if the IOC tried to overturn the ban at a summit on Tuesday, in Lausanne, where the Olympic body is due to discuss the matter. 
 
&quot;It&#39;s an international federation&#39;s right to suspend a national federation and I don&#39;t think we would overturn that at all, I&#39;d be very surprised,&quot; Coates told reporters in Melbourne. 
 
IAAF president Sebastian Coe said on Friday his governing body had the last word on athletes&#39; eligibility to compete at international events. 
 
Also talking was Jared Tallent, who won silver in the 50km walk at the 2012 London Olympic Games, but has now been boosted to the gold medal. The first man across the line in 2012, Russia&#39;s Sergey Kirdyapkin, received a ban for doping by the Russian anti-doping agency which excluded his 2012 gold medal, and would have allowed him to defend his title in Rio. 
 
In March the IAAF instructed the IOC to strip him of his gold medal and, as a Russian, he will not be at Rio. 
 
On Friday Tallent received his 2012 gold medal from John Coates at a ceremony in Melbourne. Tallent said the extension of the ban was important for his sport in Rio. 
 
&quot;It will change the way the races, in my event particularly, are raced. Athletes will now, who probably thought they&#39;d never had a chance before to win a medal, will now believe they&#39;ve got a chance to win a medal. It&#39;s a very positive day for the event. I&#39;m now very much looking forward to racing in Rio with other clean athletes and seeing who&#39;s the best out of those guys,&quot; Tallent told reporters. 
 
Australian 2016 Olympic team Chef De Mission Kitty Chiller welcomed the decision too but indicated there is still work to do by the IAAF and IOC. 
 
&quot;The steps that have been taken by the IAAF in this instance, by the IOC, to continue absolute zero tolerance to doping is good, it&#39;s a positive step. Is it going to be 100 percent clean in Rio? No, it&#39;s not going to be but at least steps are being taken now, the retesting of samples. Everything is moving in the right direction,&quot; Chiller said. 
(Reuters)

IAAF has the last word on athletes' eligibility to compete at international events, federation president Sebastian Coe said

The International Olympic Committee vice-president John Coates said on Saturday the committee is unlikely to overturn world athletics' ban on the Russian track and field team at the Rio de Janeiro Games. The International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF) on Friday nanimously upheld its ban on Russian athletes competing at international competitions due to state-sponsored doping. Russia has cried foul over the ban and President Vladimir Putin said he hoped for an "appropriate response" from the IOC. Coates, also president of the Australian Olympic Committee, said he would be "very surprised" if the IOC tried to overturn the ban at a summit on Tuesday, in Lausanne, where the Olympic body is due to discuss the matter. "It's an international federation's right to suspend a national federation and I don't think we would overturn that at all, I'd be very surprised," Coates told reporters in Melbourne. IAAF president Sebastian Coe said on Friday his governing body had the last word on athletes' eligibility to compete at international events. Also talking was Jared Tallent, who won silver in the 50km walk at the 2012 London Olympic Games, but has now been boosted to the gold medal. The first man across the line in 2012, Russia's Sergey Kirdyapkin, received a ban for doping by the Russian anti-doping agency which excluded his 2012 gold medal, and would have allowed him to defend his title in Rio. In March the IAAF instructed the IOC to strip him of his gold medal and, as a Russian, he will not be at Rio. On Friday Tallent received his 2012 gold medal from John Coates at a ceremony in Melbourne. Tallent said the extension of the ban was important for his sport in Rio. "It will change the way the races, in my event particularly, are raced. Athletes will now, who probably thought they'd never had a chance before to win a medal, will now believe they've got a chance to win a medal. It's a very positive day for the event. I'm now very much looking forward to racing in Rio with other clean athletes and seeing who's the best out of those guys," Tallent told reporters. Australian 2016 Olympic team Chef De Mission Kitty Chiller welcomed the decision too but indicated there is still work to do by the IAAF and IOC. "The steps that have been taken by the IAAF in this instance, by the IOC, to continue absolute zero tolerance to doping is good, it's a positive step. Is it going to be 100 percent clean in Rio? No, it's not going to be but at least steps are being taken now, the retesting of samples. Everything is moving in the right direction," Chiller said. (Reuters)

IOC vice-president says interference with IAAF ban is unlikely

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