Lord Coe addresses MPs and stands by sentiments that doping investigation was 'war on our sport'

IAAF president Lord Coe has regrets over the language used but not the sentiment when describing investigations into suspicious blood results as "a declaration of war on our sport".

Coe was on Wednesday giving evidence to the culture, media and sport select committee investigating blood doping in athletics following revelations made in the Sunday Times in August.

The former Olympic 1500 metres champion turned head of the world governing body was asked if he regretted the remark, made in August.

Coe said: "I described the use of selected data against clean athletes in exactly those terms. I don't step back from that.

"I stick by the sentiments. I probably might have chosen different language.

"It probably expressed my frustration and yes, anger at the time.

"I'm sorry this has mutated into an attack on the media.

"I will die in a ditch to the right for media groups to question my motives, to call to task the sport I'm currently head of.

"The issue I took exception to was the very select use of data which could not be used, in and of itself, to prove positive tests.

"To imperil the reputation of clean athletes and to extrapolate from one or two readings you can't do.

"You can't do it legally, medically and it's not within the WADA (World Anti-Doping Agency) code."

Coe pointed to Paula Radcliffe as an example.

The marathon world record holder in September went public to defend her name, claiming she had been effectively identified by the committee of MPs as having provided suspicious blood samples.

Radliffe was last week declared innocent of any blood doping by the IAAF and WADA.

Coe struggled to recall when asked about his time as head of FIFA's ethics committee, which he put at "18 months, 15 months".

Coe was asked by Ian Lucas MP why, as an "insider" of the IAAF and football's world governing body - "organisations which have been bedevilled by corruption," Lucas said - why he is the right man to lead athletics.

He added: "Because I have the experience to do that. I have the support of the sport to do that.

"I am absolutely focused on doing that and if we don't do that, I know there are no tomorrows in our sport.

"What do I want out of this sport? I want a sport that people can again trust.

"Returning trust to the sport is going to be a longer journey and will probably see out my mandate (as president)."

Committee chairman Jesse Norman said "you appear to be oblivious".

Coe, who was appointed IAAF vice-president in 2007, said: "Not oblivious, but not across the individual allegations that have surfaced recently.

"We were not aware of the specific nature of those allegations. I was not aware of the specific allegations made around the corruption of anti-doping processes around Russia.

"Those concerns were expressed in council by me and by others.

"When those issues have been raised in council there has always been an assurance from the anti-doping unit that the systems were robust."

PA