British Olympic Association to Shortlist for Top Job

(ATR) Hugh Robertson is the frontrunner to replace Sebastian Coe as BOA chairman.

The BOA vice chairman and former British sports minister is expected to be challenged by Great Britain Hockey president Richard Leman. The Seoul Olympic hockey gold medalist withdrew from the BOA race in 2012, allowing Coe to run unopposed for the U.K.’s top Olympic position.

The BOA’s nominations committee will meet on Tuesday to consider applications for the post. Around the Rings is told that there are at least two candidates in the contest to replace Coe. No candidates’ names have yet to be disclosed.

The committee will shortlist the applications and set the rules of conduct for the election campaign, which will culminate in a vote at the BOA’s annual assembly on Nov. 25.

Coe announced last year that he was standing down as BOA chair after the Rio Olympics to focus on leading the IAAF.

Corruption and doping scandals have engulfed the track and field body in a challenging first year for Coe at the helm of the world athletics body.

His second may be just as testing as he focuses on implementing a comprehensive reforms process and revamping Russia’s athletics federation. The IAAF 2017 world athletics championships in London is also on his radar.

Having worked side by side with Coe during the preparations and staging of the London 2012 Olympics, Robertson is the hot favorite to land the BOA chairmanship.

Leman is unlikely to command anything like the same support from the BOA electorate. President of GB Hockey since 2008, he is also the sport’s representative on the British Olympic Association board.

Reported by Mark Bisson

Homepage photo: Getty Images

20 Years at #1: Your best source of news about the Olympics is AroundTheRings.com, for subscribers only.