November 25, (THEWILL) – World Athletics President Sebastian Coe emphasised his commitment to protecting women’s sport during discussions regarding his potential International Olympic Committee leadership bid.
Speaking in Budapest, the former Olympic champion outlined his priorities should he succeed Thomas Bach in March 2025.
The matter gained particular significance following controversies at the Paris Games involving Algerian boxer Imane Khelif and Taiwan’s Lin Yu-ting, who obtained gold medals despite previous gender test failures.
“I do not think you can play fast and loose with a sport like boxing. You have to have clear policies across all sports,” Coe stated during the World Athletics event launch.
The 68-year-old British administrator, drawing from his extensive athletic background, including two Olympic 1500m victories, emphasised the importance of maintaining distinct guidelines for women’s participation.
“If we do not protect women’s sport and we do not have a clear and unambiguous set of policies to do that, then we run the risk of losing women’s sport,” Coe explained.
Regarding Russian athlete participation, Coe indicated plans for broader consultation processes, stating: “I want to make sure, if I do become president, that I create structures that allow the members’ voice not just to be heard, but to be acted upon.”
This approach marks a potential shift from current IOC practices concerning Russian involvement in international competitions.
Looking towards future Olympic host locations, Coe expressed support for expanding geographical representation, mentioning potential bids from Saudi Arabia and India.
He reinforced the importance of bringing sporting events to regions that encourage youth participation, stating: “We need to take our sport into regions and new territories that are going to fundamentally encourage more young people into sport.”
Jude Obafemi is a versatile senior Correspondent at THEWILL Newspapers, excelling in sourcing, researching, and delivering sports news stories for both print and digital publications.
