IAAF Passes Reforms; Coe to Serve Maximum Three Terms

(ATR) The IAAF has adopted term limits for its president and council members, ensuring that new athletics chief Sebastian Coe can serve for a maximum of 12 years.

The IAAF Congress meeting in Beijing passed the proposal for a president to serve no more than three consecutive terms -145 delegates were in favor and 41 against.

On Wednesday, Coe was elected only the sixth IAAF president in 103 years. He takes office at the end of August and, if re-elected, may serve until 2027 before having to step down.

Term limits were in any case part of the 58-year-old’s presidential policy pledges. In February, he announced his intention was to amend the IAAF constitution so that the presidency did not exceed 12 years if chosen as federation leader.

Congress delegates also passed a proposal to limit the length of council members' terms. A member who turns 70 by the time of a congress is not eligible for election or re-election to the IAAF's ruling body. A total of 127 delegates accepted the proposal, with 56 objecting.

Six federations – Grenada, Hungary, Nicaragua, St Vincent and the Grenadines, St Lucia, United States Virgin Islands – backed Amadeo Francis of Puerto Rico’s campaign to amend term limits in the IAAF constitution at the congress.

They will now come into effect in 2019.

Diack Under Fire

Initially, outgoing athletics chief Lamine Diack tried to defer the issue to the 2017 congress to allow for further consideration by the IAAF Council. He suggested it was important to discuss the issue after the IOC had revamped its own term and age limits more than a decade ago.

"I know what the role of congress is and what the role of council is. We must never try to steal the thunder of another entity," he said."Why not defer so the new council [members elected Wednesday] has time to think it over. At congress in London you can then take a vote," he told the congress, indicating the original timetable for discussion of the term limits proposal.

"Let’s think matters over and I am sure we will all try to work in the same direction. We need to have young people," Diack added.

But his deferral plan came under fire from several national federation leaders who staged lengthy interventions opposing any delay.

Francis of Puerto Rico, a former IAAF vice president, led the objections, delivering a persuasive speech on why athletics’ governing body shouldimmediately make changes to the constitution.

He argued that it was a decision for congress not the IAAF Council.

"I take exception that this should be kicked down the road for the next council," Francis said. "Council has a vested interest in ensuing there are no restraints on their terms or their behavior – members receive considerable benefits financial and otherwise, a position to which many others aspire."

Francis said the term limits revamp was "to guarantee continuity, to bring new ideas, new innovation and new talents into our operations".

Having served on the IAAF’s top table for 31 years, he said he was aware of the burdens being placed on the president. "I can assure you that well before 12 years the hair of Sebastian Coe will have turned grey," he joked.

The St Vincent delegate said the IAAF had to lead by example, not only in the fight against doping but also good governance of the federation.

"The time has come for us to be considerate of young people who sit at one congress after another and watch themselves age as room is not left for them to move upwards in the organization," he said."We ought to offer them a greater opportunity to be part and parcel of the organization."

The representative from the Virgin Islands took up the baton, saying the proposals that were initiated six months ago should be put to the vote in line with IAAF rules relating to bringing constitutional change.He said introduction of term limits "protects against the tyranny of the majority… and really provides checks and balances for a democratic process that could be fraught with the influence of money and power.

"It ensures that change comes as part of the constitution not because a few and powerful people want change."

IAAF general secretary Essar Gabriel told a press conference later on Wednesday that the Council had considered but rejected similar reforms in 2014, instead indicating that an "exhaustive and thorough exercise" was needed.

"I think it is a good outcome," he said of today’s decision, adding that more time was needed to finalise the language of the reforms and complement with other items before they come into force in 2019.

Reported in Beijing by Mark Bisson

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