Seb Coe to Create Values Commission if Elected IAAF President

18 July 2015, Cali, Colombia:

Speaking today at the IAAF World Youth Championships in Cali, IAAF Presidential candidate Seb Coe will pledge to create an IAAF Values Commission to help support and guide athletes, particularly those in their teenage years, when confronted with dangers such as doping, illegal betting and nationality or age manipulation.

The Values Commission (terms of reference attached) would comprise world-leading experts in integrity, security, and anti-doping as well as respected current and former athletes and coaches. Seb Coe will also announce that Olympic track legend Michael Johnson has agreed to sit on the Values Commission.

Specifically, the Commission would:

§ Monitor integrity developments and challenges in Athletics and sport more broadly

§ Develop an integrity Code of Practice for athletes and coaches to sign up to

§ Define the values that should underpin Athletics and the IAAF and work with Member Federations to embed and promote these values

§ Advise on the development of online and other educational materials to help promote positive behaviour across the IAAF family, and to instil appropriate values early in an athlete’s career

§ Create a values template that will inform IAAF decisions on the awarding of major events

Speaking about his proposal to set up an IAAF Values Commission, Coe said:

"Good coaching is not just about the dissemination of technical know-how. It’s also about creating a moral framework for athletes, particularly those in their formative years. Good coaches of course do this. However, the creation of a Values Commission can help in this process and will help raise standards and build on best practice in our sport.

"Good corporate governance is not itself enough to deal with the challenges that sport has to deal with. I want to be proactive and help support young athletes set out a route map based on values that can guide them away from malign influences. I also hope that, in doing so, we can help harness the power of Athletics for wider social benefit. I want the IAAF to lead by example.

"I see this Commission as a priority if I am elected as President and will ensure that its membership is drawn from experts both within and outside our sport. I plan to make further announcements about Commission membership in the coming weeks as I set out its scope to the Athletics family."

Michael Johnson added:

"I fully support the creation of an IAAF Values Commission and I’m delighted to help Seb Coe turn it into a reality if he is elected IAAF President next month. This is something that is long overdue in our sport and I believe it will make a real difference in helping young people starting out in Athletics make the right ethical decisions, both in and outside the sport."

For more information, please contact:

Mike Lee: +44 [0] 777 5677 408

John Zerafa: +44 [0] 781 3814 816

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