Athletics Ireland CEO John Foley wants radical reform of sport

Athletics Ireland yesterday backed IAAF president Sebastian Coe to salvage the sport’s reputation, despite the independent commission of the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) finding that the IAAF’s governing council “could not have been unaware of the extent of doping in athletics and the non-enforcement of applicable anti-doping rules”.

But Russia should not, at this stage, be considered to compete at this year’s Olympics, the Irish governing body insists.

“Sebastian Coe is a strong character and now needs to show that strength of character and deliver radical reform for our sport,” said Athletics Ireland CEO John Foley, in a statement.