Deciding not to boycott the 1980 Olympics in Moscow was easy compared to the diplomatic nightmare the head of the IAAF now facesOver to you then,Seb. As Russia edged closer this week to the first national ban from competitive athletics – reward for the state-sponsored industrial-scale poisoning of its own citizens – it is tempting to reflect on how events can often tend to repeat themselves. This isn’t the first time Sebastian Coe has been forced to acquire a tough choice about Russia. In January 1980 Coe, a charismatic, and supremely talented runner but yet to win a major championship medal,was approached privately by the British government and asked to boycott the Moscow Olympics in protest at the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan. Related: GB captain Martyn Rooney: IAAF president Sebastian Coe has been naive Continue reading...
Source: theguardian.com