Thompson
says fellow legend Coe faces 'defining' moment
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[November 12, 2015]
LONDON (Reuters) - Daley Thompson
has urged his fellow British luminary Sebastian Coe, the head of world
athletics, to "stand up and show some leadership" with his sport
embroiled in crisis.
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In the wake of the World Anti-Doping Agency commission which
reported widespread, state-backed doping of Russian athletes, former
decathlete Thompson said his friend and fellow double Olympic
champion Coe had been presented with the "defining moment" of his
IAAF presidency.
On Friday, the IAAF Council meet in Monaco to consider sanctions
against the Russian athletics federation after a recommendation from
the commission that it be suspended.
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"What the whole situation needs is for its leader -- and Seb Coe is
the custodian of what I think is the greatest sport in the world --
to stand up and show some leadership," Thompson told Talksport
radio.
"He needs to let the people know, he needs to let the cheats know,
and he needs to make sure all the other federations understand there
are serious consequences to this. I reckon he needs to make some
examples (of the cheats).
"He has the best interests of the sport in his heart. He cares about
it passionately and he wants to see it thrive. I don't think he will
allow this situation to continue.
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"He has to stand up and make some proper decisions, but not in a
back-door diplomacy way. He needs to be upfront and let the public
see what he's doing.
"If that means more and more bad things come out, then so be it.
Let's clear the decks and start again. This is going to be the
defining moment of his presidency."
(Writing by Ian Chadband)
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