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News05 Apr 2003


Athens 2004 Marathon Races will start at 18:00 - IAAF Council - Dakar - April 5-6-7 2003 - Day 1

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DakarSenegalFollowing an Opening Ceremony hosted by the Sports Minister of Senegal Youssoupha Ndiaye, the head of Senegal’s Olympic Committee, Abdoulaye Seye Moreau, and a visit to the President of the Republic Abdoulaye Wade, the IAAF Council began its first session at 13:30 on 5 April with an activity report from Lamine Diack.

IAAF Vice-President Arne Ljungqvist (SWE), architect of the IAAF’s anti-doping strategy, was congratulated for being recently elected as the new Chairman of the Medical Commission of the International Olympic Committee.

During the report from the IAAF General Secretary Istvan Gyulai, a number of key issues were discussed including:

Athens 2004

The start times of the Marathon races in the 2004 Athens Olympic Games were discussed. It was agreed that both races would now start at 18:00.

Anti-Doping

Over 900 athletes are now in the IAAF’s “Whereabouts” system. Details are updated every month so as to ensure viability of surprise out-of-competition testing. The recent case of some top Greek athletes, who turned up in Doha, Qatar when they were thought to be in Greece, was discussed and the Greek federation SEGAS was congratulated for immediately following up and informing the coach and his group about their future co-operation. It was noted that these athletes had been tested out-of-competition on three occasions in the recent past.

It was agreed that Council would support the adoption of the WADA Code by Congress. The situation with regard to the conduct of anti-doping control for the World Championships in Paris has been settled and is satisfactory. A compromise has also been reached with the French authorities regarding out-of-competition testing in France.

In the case of the athlete Olivier Jean-Theodore (FRA), who was suspended for refusing a test in July 2001, Council agreed to his early reinstatement, following a recommendation from the Anti-Doping Commission and the IAAF’s legal counsel.

Two other athletes, Andrea Longo (ITA) and Ali Saidi-Sief (ALG), also requested early reinstatement. Both athletes are due to return from 2 year suspensions a few days after the close of final entries for the World Championships in Paris. In the case of Longo, although early reinstatement was rejected and the athlete would still serve the full 2 year suspension, Council agreed that because there had been a 2 month delay in the reporting of the result from the laboratory, a slightly later qualification deadline would be accepted.

Regarding Ali Saidi-Sief, Council found no reason to accept his request for early reinstatement.

It was agreed that Council would support the adoption of the WADA Code by Congress. The situation with regard to the conduct of anti-doping control for the World Championships in Paris has been settled and is satisfactory. A compromise has also been reached with the French authorities regarding out-of-competition testing in France.

Future IAAF competitions

Regarding future IAAF competitions, it was confirmed that the World Athletics Day Final will take place in Monaco on 13/14 September.
It was also agreed that, because the Hammer Throw cannot be contested at Monaco’s Stade Louis II for technical reasons, the Final of the World Athletics Final Hammer Throw will be held in Szombathely, Hungary on 7 September.
 
Council also agreed that the 2004 World Cross Country Championships in Brussels will take place on Saturday 20 March and Sunday 21 March.

The 2004 World Half Marathon Championships in New Delhi will be held on Saturday, 2 October.

The 2005 World Half Marathon Championships in Edmonton will be held on Saturday, 1 October.

Council also agreed that the 2007 World Championships in Athletics – Osaka – will take place from Friday 24 August until Sunday 2 September, pending the approval of Eurovision.

IAAF Certification

The IAAF Certification System for athletic facilities, track products, equipment and implements used at IAAF events is being thoroughly reviewed and a new set of regulations is currently being prepared. Having received Council’s approval, the new system is expected to be finalised by 1 May 2003.

Athletics in Zimbabwe

The situation of athletics in Zimbabwe has been clarified, following free and democratic elections on 9 March. Representatives of the former federation, and the interim committee of Athletics Zimbabwe, have now been elected and have promised to work together for the benefit of athletics in that country.

Transfers of Allegiance

Three cases of transfers of allegiance were reported to Council:
Christophe Fernandes  FRA to POR
Lamberte Nyabamikazi BUR to RWA
Philipp Rist   SUI to CAN

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