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 The International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF)
released a statement on Tuesday outlining five steps for "building
trust in the governing body" and five more for "building trust in
competition".
The measures include increasing the anti-doping budget to $8
million, doubling the international testing pool of athletes to
1,000 and establishing a separate integrity unit for track and
field.
The aim of the plan, according to the IAAF, is to make the governing
body "an accountable, responsible and responsive organization".
The sport was plunged into crisis at the end of last year after an
initial report by the independent commission of the World
Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) detailed systematic, state-sponsored
doping and related corruption in Russia.
The IAAF itself has also been beset by corruption allegations
regarding the taking of bribes to cover up doping.
Retired president Lamine Diack, who has now been succeeded by
Sebastian Coe, was last month placed under formal investigation by
French authorities on suspicion of corruption and money laundering.
Coe, who is under fire for having taken too long to act on
allegations of impropriety within the governing body, said he was
under no illusions about the seriousness of the issues facing the
organization.
"I am president of an international federation which is under
serious investigations and I represent a sport under intense
scrutiny," he said in the statement.
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"My vision is to have a sport that attracts more young people. The
average age of those watching track and field is 55 years old. This
is not sustainable.
"The key to making that vision a reality is creating a sport that
people once more trust in," added Coe.
"Athletics must be a sport that athletes, fans, sponsors, media and
parents alike know is safe to compete in on a level playing field
and one in which clean effort is rewarded and celebrated."
The second part of WADA's independent commission report is due to be
released on Jan. 14.
(Reporting by Toby Davis; editing by Tony Jimenez)
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