IAAF President Sebastian Coe attends first ARAF Gala in Moscow

Sebastian Coe has just completed his first official visit to Russia as IAAF President.

He visited Moscow’s IAAF Regional Development Centre, met the country’s national team coaches at the Russian NOC HQ where he also addressed the All Russian Athletics Federation (ARAF) Annual Congress, and later presented awards at the first ever ARAF Gala.

He also used the opportunity of his visit to meet with Russia’s Minister of Sport Vitaliy Mutko and President of the Russian Olympic Committee and IOC Member Alexander Zhukov.

President Coe was hosted by IAAF Council Member Mikhail Butov and All-Russia Athletics Federation President Vadim Zelichenok during the two-day trip.

“This has been a very productive visit to Moscow,” said Coe. “I was able to meet and interact directly with Russian athletes, coaches and officials, and I appreciated their openness, passion for our sport and noted a real appetite for change. I also felt a very strong support for our plans to modernise athletics.

“I expressed my uncompromising position on the issue of doping in athletics and the importance for the sport to build trust and defend clean athletes at all times.”

IAAF