Chambers Controversy Among Highlights of IAAF Council Meeting

IAAF President Lamine Diack, pictured here with Berlin Mayor Klaus Wowereit, will preside over the IAAF Council Meeting this weekend. (IAAF)A number of major issues, including the controversy over disgraced British sprinter Dwain Chambers’ autobiography and a proposed restructuring of major meets, will be discussed by the IAAF Council at its annual spring meeting in Berlin this weekend.

The two-day meeting will be held at the Berlin Hotel Intercontinental in the German capital, which will serve as the host of the world athletics championships Aug. 15-23.

IAAF President Lamine Diack will preside over the proceedings of the 28-member council, which includes Senior Vice President Sergey Bubka, General Secretary Pierre Weiss and honorary Treasurer Jean Poczobut as well as the federation’s three vice presidents, six area representatives and 15 additional members.

The council will get an update from the IAAF Advisory Board on the controversy surrounding Chambers’ recently-released book “Race Against Me: My Story” on Saturday.

The board met with the federation’s legal experts on Friday to discuss the book and explore whether Chambers – who served a two-year ban after testing positive for drugs in 2003 in the The controversy surrounding British sprinter Dwain Chambers’ book will also be discussed. (Getty Images)wake of the BALCO scandal – would be subject to further disciplinary action due to his accounts of his drug usage in the book.

However, it is unclear whether the council will make any decision on Chambers during the meeting.

Changing the structure of its major competitions, including the worlds, is another item on the agenda at the meeting. The council will explore ways to streamline the meet schedules to make it more attractive to television audiences.

Preparations for the world championships and the IAAF Congress in August will also be discussed. Progress reports for the worlds and the federation’s athletics final in Thessaloniki, Greece Sept. 12-13 and half marathon championships in Birmingham, England Oct. 11 will be presented by the local organizing committees for those events.

Also on the agenda are meetings of the advisory board as well as the competition and marketing commissions. The council will also choose a venue for the 2010 world cross-country championships.

Written by Greg Oshust.