World athletics chief Lord Coe has backed the UK Athletics Council to tackle its financial problems.
UKA’s latest financial results show a loss of £1.8m and it has a balance of just £430,000 – down from £2.2m in the space of a year.
Chief executive Jack Buckner and chairman Ian Beattie are leading the turnaround effort after £19.6m of expenses contributed to post-tax losses.
Lord Coe said: “The fund should not have got to the point it is. I think they will stabilize him and continue to grow in the game. They have a big advantage because they have very good athletes.
“I am personally delighted that UKA now has what I consider to be a very good leadership team.
“Jack is a close friend of mine, he’s talented, passionate about the game, and if you look at people like Ian, Mark Munro (COO) and Cherry Alexander – fortunately back in the lap – they know they have a big challenge ahead of them.
“I spoke to Jack a lot about this and he knows his big ambition is to stabilize the finances.
The financial position should not have come. I think they will sustain the game and continue to grow it
Mr. Ko
“He’s been very active in finding new sponsors. They’ve brought in some outside support.
Meanwhile, Goh believes Kenya can solve any doping problem, despite the country’s admission that the problem is “ruining” the sport.
Kenya – third in track and field medals at last year’s Tokyo Olympics – has so far avoided a blanket ban despite the suspension of 55 athletes.
The Athletics Integrity Unit is working with Kenya, whose government has pledged to invest $25 million over the next five years to tackle doping, and Ko treats them differently than Russia, which has been banned from competing in athletics since 2015.
“At the end of the day there will always be a line in the stand, and we draw it on the Russia issue. I see the two situations very differently,” Koh said.
At the end of the day, there will always be a line on the stand, and we draw it on the Russia issue. I see the two situations differently
Mr. Ko
“Kenyans are well aware that this is disgraceful and I have had extensive discussions with the federation at ministerial and government level.
“It’s a statement of intent that they’re paying $25 million over five years. I’m satisfied. We have all the key people in place to help solve this. They’re lined up.
“At the end of the day there’s always a line in the sand, for any federation. We are working very well and collaboratively.
I will also follow AIU’s lead. We need to sort this out, it is not good for Kenya or global athletics.
“They represent a lot of our history and I’m glad to see that there is recognition that this needs to be addressed at all key levels in Kenya.”
