IAAF Council Meeting, Monaco, Day One – NOTES

19 November 2010 – Monte Carlo – The IAAF Council chaired by President Lamine Diack gathered today in Monaco for the opening day of its two-day autumnal session, Friday 19 and Saturday 20.

Finances

Following a report from the IAAF Honorary Treasurer Jean Poczobut, Council was pleased to see that as a result of a combination of cost cutting and the arrival of new revenue streams such as Samsung’s title sponsorship of the IAAF Diamond League, the financial situation of the IAAF has been stabilised.

Indeed, it was underlined that the IAAF reserves in the long term would be in excess of the minimum level agreed of US$50 million for the next 5 years, and indeed, the reserves in 2015 would be higher than at the end of 2011. Council, however, underlined that it would continue with a strategy of strict financial control, which together with aggressive commercial and marketing activities, will ensure a bright long term future for the IAAF.

Broadcasting Rights

Numerous TV deals for IAAF competitions have recently been signed with Norway, Sweden, Finland, Greece, Czech Republic, Portugal, Slovenia and Cyprus, all but one on free to air platforms with EBU members.

Early in October, IAAF and IEC in Sports, IAAF’s exclusive media rights agency for Europe and Africa, were able to announce the conclusion of a pivotal free to air agreement in the UK with Channel 4, for the 2011/2013 media rights. This agreement is not only the first in the top five territories but demonstrates that it is possible to finalise major terrestrial deals with other than EBU members. Channel 4 will provide in excess of 50 hours of free to air coverage of the 2011 IAAF World Championships.

In Italy the contract negotiations for the WAS 2011/2013 are virtually finalised, and it is a very similar situation in France where the conclusion of an agreement is imminent and details will shortly be announced. Negotiations are on-going with all other major broadcasters, with offers received in virtually all territories, and other agreements are expected to be concluded in several territories in particular Russia.

IEC has concluded a major agreement with Sports Extra Time for the terrestrial rights in Sub Saharan Africa including strong broadcast guarantees for most WAS events. With this last deal TV rights in Sub Saharan Africa are virtually completed. 

Dentsu/AMS, who hold IAAF media rights for all territories in the world outside Europe and Africa, reported that negotiations in two key markets, China and Brazil, are progressing extremely well for the period of 2014/2019. In China, it is expected that rights fees will be several fold above current levels with a potential 6-year deal with a rights holding terrestrial broadcaster that will deliver broad exposure.

Medical & Anti-Doping

Testing Programme

Out-of-Competition 
The IAAF Registered Testing Pool (RTP) is currently composed of 611 athletes (303 men and 308 women) and 1550 out-of-competition tests were conducted as of end of October 2010.

Blood Passport
The blood testing programme in 2010 was focusing on the haematological module of the Athlete’s Biological Passport (ABP).  In 2011, it will be extended to the development of the steroid profile and endocrine module of the ABP.

Disorder of Sexual Development  – update

The IAAF continues to work with its appointed medical and scientific experts and the international sports community, including the International Olympic Committee, to formulate new regulations for the management of cases of hyperandrogenism (a medical condition in particular characterized by excessive production of androgens) arising in Athletics. 

This work is now at an advanced stage and will be finalised in the coming months.  A full package of documents will be presented to the IAAF Council for its approval at its next meeting in Daegu in April 2011 and the current intention is that the new regulations will be implemented with effect from 1 May 2011.

The IAAF will also complete in the coming months all necessary technical and logistical arrangements required to set up a global system for the management of future cases on a worldwide basis.

World Athletics Series

Entry Standards

Council approved the entry standards for the Daegu 2011 World Champs (see attached pdf)

Implements

Council made amendments to the approved Implements list for the Lille 2001 World Youth Champs (see attached pdf)

Bidding Procedure

The procedure to bid for the following future IAAF WAS Competitions shall be opened in January 2011 for decision by the Council in November 2011:
• 2013 (or 2014)  World Half Marathon Championships
• 2014 World Indoor Championships
• 2014 Continental Cup (may be postponed until 2012)
• 2014 World Junior Championships
• 2017 World Championships in Athletics.

World One-Day Permit Meetings

Although the Council approved the Calendar at the last IAAF Council meeting in Kiev, there have been several changes (see attached pdf).

The major amendments are:
• Indoors: Valencia has been cancelled
• Combined Events: Ratingen has changed its date
• Diamond League: One of the UK venues has been moved from Gateshead to Birmingham.  The Diamond League General Assembly shall meet on 22/23 November 2010 in Monaco to continue its evaluation of the 2010 season.
• World Challenge: The Osaka meeting has been moved to Kawasaki.

N.B. With regard to Road Races, there have been no amendments to the Calendar.

Review of IAAF World Hammer Throw Challenge

The Hammer throw Challenge was created in 2010 when it was found out that this discipline was the only one which was not included in the new Diamond League concept.

Most of the organisers of the IAAF World Challenge accepted to add this event to their programme:
• 3 meetings organised both events: Rio – Ostrava – Rieti
• 4 meetings organised a men event: Osaka – Hengelo – Madrid – Zagreb
• 5 meetings organised a women event: Dakar – Daegu – Moscow – Athens – Berlin

For 2011, the provisional situation is:
• 3 meetings intend to organise both events: Rio – Ostrava – Rieti
• 2 meetings intend to organise a men event: Osaka/Kawasaki – Zagreb
• 5 meetings intend to organise a women event: Dakar – Daegu – Hengelo – Moscow – Madrid 

No more AHO

Netherlands Antilles has ceased to exist as a separate territory (one of 21 IAAF Members that are not countries but territories). Therefore, athletes will not compete anymore as AHO but as Holland (they have, in any case, always had Dutch passports), and IAAF membership will drop from 213 to 212. With regard to eligibility of the athletes from the former Netherlands Antilles to compete in International Competitions under IAAF Rules, the Council accepted that they are eligible to represent the Netherlands with immediate effect.

Date approved for 2012 World Half Marathon

The Council approved the date of the 20th IAAF World Half Marathon Championships – Kavarna, Bulgaria: Saturday, 6 October 2012

Athletes’ Representatives Regulations postponed

Council decided to suspend application of the new Athletes’ Representatives Regulations for another 12 months until 2012.  This was to allow for a further period of reflection on certain issues recently raised by the interested parties (Member Federations, Athlete Representatives and the athletes) concerning aspects of the new system.   An internal working group has been set up by the President to study these issues and to revise the Regulations as appropriate. The intention is that the working group’s work will be completed in the first quarter of next year and that the revised Regulations shall be submitted to the Council for approval in Daegu next April.  

All relevant documentation will then be circulated to IAAF Member Federations immediately following the Council meeting which will give them plenty of time to arrange for implementation of the new system in their jurisdictions with effect from 1 January 2012.

If sufficient interest is registered, a specific workshop dedicated to the practical implementation of the new Regulations could be anticipated at next year’s World Championships in Daegu.  In the meantime, and for the whole of 2011, the existing system for regulating Athletes’ Representatives will continue to be implemented. 

Advertising Regulations

Council agreed new Advertising Regulations

Transfers of Allegiance

https://www.iaaf.org/athletes/transfer/index.html

The following Transfers of Allegiance have been processed in accordance with Rule 5.4(d) since the Council’s meeting in August 2010 meeting:

ADAEZE OFILI Tiffany USA to GBR; DOB 13.11.1987; Eligible for performance – 05.09.10; Eligibility 1.1(a), (b), (f) – 05.09.10

M'BANGO Françoise CMR to FRA; DOB 14.04.1976; Eligible for performance – 15.09.10; Eligibility 1.1(a), (b), (f) – 23.04.13

KORZENIOWSKA Sylwia POL to FRA; DOB 25.04.1980; Eligible for performance – 15.09.10; Eligibility 1.1(a), (b), (f) – 01.06.11

AISH Michael NZL to USA; DOB 24.07.1976; Eligible for performance – 15.09.10; Eligibility 1.1(a), (b), (f) – 22.07.11

GHANMOUNI Rachid MAR to FRA; DOB 10.04.1978; Eligible for performance – 27.09.10; Eligibility 1.1(a), (b), (f) – 22.10.12

In addition, The Ethiopian athlete Madina Kedir Mohammed became a UAE citizen on 17 March 2010 and this athlete would normally be eligible to represent the United Arab Emirates in international competition on 17 March 2013. UAE submitted a request to reduce the waiting period, which was accepted by the Ethiopian federation, but has also approached the Council to allow her to compete with immediate effect. This was accepted by the Council, on the basis that it would help to promote the cause of women’s athletics in the Gulf region.

International Race Walking Judges (IRWJ)

IRWJ Evaluation
The IAAF organised the IRWJ Evaluation in Paris, France on 30/31 October 2010. There were 49 participants: the former IRWJ Panel, with the exception of Jill Huxley and Magdalena Caisabanda, and 18 Area Race Walking Judges.

IRWJ Panel 2011 – 2014 and Appointments
The Council approved the new Panel of International Race Walking Judges for the period 2011-2014 and appointments (2011-2012) to competitions.

IAAF