Lamine Diack
becomes first president of the International Association of Athletics
Federations
Sergey Bubka is elected to the IAAF Council
IAAF agrees to refer all disputes to CAS for arbitration
1 August 2001 – Edmonton, Canada – An overwhelming majority of IAAF Congress delegates has elected Lamine Diack President of the International Association of Athletics Federations. 168 delegates voted for with just 1 delegate against. Mr Diack has been acting President of the IAAF since the death of former IAAF President Primo Nebiolo on 7 November 1999.
Professor Helmut Digel (GER), who is already a Council Member, also received significant support – 151 for with 11 against – in the election for Vice-President. There were no other candidates for either position.
Because Council needs to have 27 members, Congress also elected two new Members to Council. In the first round, Sergey Bubka (UKR) received 117 votes, which was enough for an absolute majority. Because no other candidate had a majority, according to IAAF rules, a second round of voting was necessary. Colonel Gianni Gola (ITA) received 68 votes, to take the remaining position on the Council. Colonel D.J.B. Al-Hamad of Qatar finished second with 60 votes
Following its meeting yesterday, the Asian Amateur Athletic Association nominated Suresh Kalmadi (IND) as Asian Area Representative on the IAAF Council. Pierre Dasriaux (FRA) was elected Honorary Member of the IAAF.
Congress has approved by acclamation a Council proposal that all athletics disputes be referred to the Court of Arbitration for Sport. CAS is already recognized as an independent final arbitral body for sporting disputes worldwide. This move is intended to bring athletics in line with other major Olympic sports. All disputes will be referred to CAS, which is based in Lausanne, within sixty days of the date upon which the disputed decision was made.
