Seb Coe’s IAAF presidency bid part-funded by UK Sport

Sebastian Coe’s campaign for the IAAF presidency was supported by £63,000 public money donated via UK Sport, it has been revealed.

UK Sport provides money from its international relations budget to promote British sports leaders bid for positions in world organisations, and it covered the cost of the Vero Communications consultancy of £52,000 plus VAT which was part of Coe’s bid to take over the leadership of world athletics.

Coe is under increasing pressure to sever his ties with Nike, but a spokesman for the IAAF president said the sportswear giant provided no funding for his campaign. The UK Sport contribution covered one third of the cost, with the remaining money being raised privately.