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Coe announced his decision after a meeting on Thursday. AP/Press Association Images

IAAF chief Sebastian Coe steps down as paid Nike ambassador due to 'conflict of interest'

The former Olympian had previously resisted calls for him to sever ties with the American sports brand.

INTERNATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF Athletics Federations (IAAF) President, Sebastian Coe, has stepped down from his paid role as an ambassador for Nike.

The head of athletics’ governing body had been accused of having a conflict of interest and has this afternoon relinquished the post with immediate effect.

Lord Coe had become under increased pressure to sever ties with the American sports brand after it emerged he’d lobbied on Nike’s behalf in Eugene’s successful bid to host the 2012 World Athletics Championships.

Nike’s headquarters in Oregon is situated close to the city of Eugene.

After emerging from a meeting of the IAAF council in Monaco this afternoon, Coe revealed he had ended his long-standing relationship with Nike.

He insisted the decision had been made in order to focus on cleaning up the sport and the organisation.

“It is clear that perception and reality have become horribly mangled. I have stepped down from the Nike position I have held for 38 years,” he said.

“The current noise around it is not good for the IAAF and it is not good for Nike. I don’t feel my role with Nike is a conflict of interest but is has become a distraction.”

Coe, unpaid as head of track and field’s world governing body, received around €142,000 a year for his global ambassadorial role for Nike.

The Briton, a two-time Olympic gold 1500m medallist, is accused of lobbying disgraced predecessor Lamine Diack to hand Eugene the World Championships.

Bjorn Eriksson, who led a rival bid by Gothenburg for the 2021 championships, said Coe telephoned him on Wednesday to say it had been wrong to give the event to Eugene without a formal bidding process.

Coe insisted, however, that he had not been responsible for the decision that was made in April.

With additional reporting by - © AFP 2015

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    Mute Tony Skillington
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    Nov 26th 2015, 6:40 PM

    The moment he became President of the IAAF he should have done this. Have to ask if the drugs thing hadn’t broke would he have ditched a very lucrative association?

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    Mute Dermot Lane
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    Nov 26th 2015, 6:52 PM

    he’s up to his neck in this, as John snow said he’s either grossly incompetant or corrupt

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    Mute Pauliebhoy
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    Nov 26th 2015, 6:56 PM

    So Jo(h)n Snow lives!!!!!

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    Mute Dermot Lane
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    Nov 26th 2015, 7:01 PM

    is it possible Nike dumped him?

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    Mute Eugene Walsh
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    Nov 27th 2015, 12:29 AM

    Don’t care what anyone says or what seb did or didn’t do. The right city got the games 8)

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    Mute Symbolism
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    Nov 26th 2015, 7:05 PM

    So what exactly does a “global ambassador” for Nike do. Apart from ensuring they get favourable treatment from the IAAF ? Strange how these conflicts of interest arise only when improprieties are revealed.

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    Mute Michael Fehily
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    Nov 26th 2015, 7:16 PM

    Pompus bore..He’s still parading around the place like he’s the olympic 1500mtr champion..

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    Mute Gerard McDermott
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    Nov 26th 2015, 7:38 PM

    @Michael Fehily

    He will always be an Olympic Champion, double Olympic Champion in fact, and he is still the only man to have won two Olympic gold medals at 1500m. You may not like the man, but you can’t really take away his achievements.

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    Mute Stephen Walsh
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    Nov 26th 2015, 7:36 PM

    Incompetent/corrupt or both.

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    Mute Michael Fehily
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    Nov 26th 2015, 8:59 PM

    @Gérard….I agree that he won his titles. I admit he was a fantastic athletic talent in his day. I never disputed that. Though I think neither Steve Cram or Steve Ovette got the credit they deserved at that time.
    However that doesn’t gloss over the fact that he is an arrogant pompous bore..sorry

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    Mute Brendan McLoughlin
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    Nov 26th 2015, 7:59 PM

    Has he any farming blood in him? Job or two going in Ireland that might suit him!

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    Mute Fintan Kieran
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    Nov 26th 2015, 7:53 PM

    Should have stepped down from the IAAF

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    Mute barry
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    Nov 26th 2015, 9:24 PM

    he’s only just got the job and he’s treading water already,amazing that he thought he could hold his current position and still be an ambassador for Nike,must be hard to give up 142 grand for doing nothing though,money for jam.

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    Mute Dead Ball Browne
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    Nov 26th 2015, 11:13 PM

    The vultures are circling. …

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    Mute Gerry Campbell
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    Nov 27th 2015, 10:00 AM

    Is it ” due to conflict of interest ” or ” due to “conflict of interest, being highlighted ” . The latter I would suggest.

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