Seb Coe faces MPs questions over Nike contract, alleged corruption and doping

IAAF president appears before the appearing before the culture, media and sport committee in Westminster
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IAAF president Sebastian Coe was appearing before the culture, media and sport committee in Westminster this afternoon as part of their inquiry into blood doping in athletics.

With the help of Damian Collins, MP for Folkestone and Hythe and one of 11 committee members, we explain the purpose of the hearing…

Why is Coe appearing before the select committee and could he have refused to appear?

He was invited by the select committee and, although Coe would have been within his rights to turn down the invitation, it would have been frowned upon and seen as sticking up two fingers to his former fellow MPs. Coe was elected to Parliament in 1992 as a Conservative MP and more than half the select committee are from the same political party.

What sanctions, if desired, can the select committee take against Coe?

Well, none really, but it can make recommendations to Coe and others who have been involved in the hearing. What those recommendations are remains to be seen. More broadly, Collins

believes the outcome should be that “the IAAF can show a bit more humility”.

Have others appeared before the committee?

Yes, they have heard from Dr Michael Ashenden, the scientist who was integral in The Sunday Times investigation into the leaked biological passports from the IAAF. Others to appear include Nicole Sapstead and David Kenworthy, chief executive and chairman of UK Anti-Doping respectively, and David Howman, the director general of the World Anti-Doping Agency. It was at that hearing that Paula Radcliffe felt she was effectively named as the leading British elite with suspicious blood readings. Last week, the IAAF cleared her of the allegations.

With a majority make-up of Conservative MPs, can Coe expect an easy ride?

No, according to Collins. The Tory MP said: “My experience with the select committee is that there is no political prejudice at all. He’ll still be asked the same challenging questions.”

What questions can Coe expect to face?

He can expect to be grilled about the state of the IAAF and how, having been part of the organisation, he was seemingly unaware of the alleged corruption by his predecessor, Lamine Diack, and the former head of the organisation’s anti-doping body, Gabriel Dolle. He will undoubtedly be questioned about what he knew and asked about his relationship with Diack. In addition, questions were raised last week concerning the World Athletics Championships in Eugene in 2021 and an email exchange between a Nike senior executive and the Eugene bid chief which suggested Coe had “reached out” to Diack concerning what proved to be a successful bid by the American city.

Having foregone his £100,000 Nike ambassadorial role last week, can Coe expect to get a free ride on that issue?

No, according to Collins. “What’s interesting is that Lord Coe appeared to suggest the ethics commission had said his Nike role wasn’t a problem,” added Collins. “But they have since published their response to him and in that there appear to have been some quite onerous conditions on their letter. So there are certainly some questions around that.”

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