In an interview on Wednesday, Sebastian Coe, head of World Athletics and contender for the International Olympic Committee (IOC) presidency, pledged that if chosen, he would enforce a “clear and uncompromising” policy to safeguard women’s sports and develop a more democratic framework.
Coe’s bid is part of a larger reform initiative where he aims to demonstrate his role as the genuine option for change, competing against seven other contenders for the presidency, which will be determined in March 2025.
A key element of his agenda focuses on a resolute dedication to transparency, integrity, and fairness in sport, particularly regarding the participation of transgender athletes and those with Differences in Sex Development (DSD) in women’s competitions. Coe firmly asserts that the current IOC guidelines on this issue are “ambiguous” and insists on the need for establishing clear and definitive regulations.
“It must be a clear policy, and the International Federations must have some flexibility,” he explained. “But it is the IOC’s responsibility to create that landscape. For me, it is a very clear proposition: if you don’t protect the women’s category, or if you’re in any way ambiguous about it for any reason, it won’t end well for women’s sport. I come from a sport where that is absolutely sacred.”
Coe’s statements come in the wake of the controversy surrounding the Paris 2024 boxing tournament. It was there that Algerian athlete Imane Khelif and Taiwanese boxer Lin Yu-ting won titles after being barred from competing in the 2023 World Championships because, according to the organiser of that event, the International Boxing Association (IBA), both fighters had “male DNA, with XY chromosomes.”
The IOC authorised Khelif and Lin to fight in Paris, citing their status as women in their passports and accused the IBA of violating medical and ethical standards by leaking the results of genetic tests. When asked whether he felt uncomfortable watching the boxing in Paris, Coe replied, “I did feel uncomfortable.”
In addition to his stance on gender equity, Coe introduced a $50,000 (€47,400) prize for all gold medalists in Paris through World Athletics earlier this year. The candidate intends to extend this policy to all sports in future Games, provided the IOC allows it. “I have always spoken about resources and athlete welfare and giving them a financial stake in the game,” Coe said. “I believe that can be done in a way that is respectful of Olympic philosophy, but I have to acknowledge that we are in a different landscape.”
Coe has been praised in World Athletics for his fight against doping by establishing the Athletics Integrity Unit and for ensuring a gender-equal board. However, his decision to ban Russian and Belarusian athletes from all sports competitions, initially due to state-sponsored doping and later because of the invasion of Ukraine, has been met with opposition from many IOC members, including current president Thomas Bach.
Speaking about his approach to leadership, Coe emphasised that he is not a “common” candidate, suggesting that his vision for the future of the IOC would differ sharply from the current leadership. “I’m not here to do the same thing. I’m a candidate for change,” he said, reiterating that protecting the integrity of sport would be central to his campaign. This message was reinforced with his statement that he would take a “clear” approach to controversial issues.
In this regard, Coe insisted that his best quality is his ability to build consensus. “One of my strengths is being good at team-building,” he said. “I did it in London. I did it at the National Olympic Committee. I did it at World Athletics. And I really work towards consensus. But that doesn’t mean I’m not willing to make difficult decisions when necessary.”
Along with his firm policies on athlete inclusion and financial support, Coe highlighted the need for a more democratic IOC. He expressed frustration with the lack of voice given to IOC members and argued that their talents should be utilised to shape the future direction of the organisation.
“There needs to be more of a voice for members. We have exceptional people in that membership, and I want to make sure they are used to their fullest capacity. There are people in the movement who would be the first choice for any international board. And I’m not just talking about commercial profiles; we have cultural leaders, filmmakers, educators, coaches, athletes, media owners, royals, and politicians,” he stated.
With his experience leading both World Athletics and the London 2012 Olympic Games, Coe believes he is well-prepared to handle the challenges of IOC presidency. “I’ve been training for this for most of my life,” Coe said. “I believe I can make a difference, and I have a plan and a vision for what that difference will look like.” However, he emphasised that any changes would be implemented thoughtfully and without destabilising the core values of the Olympic movement.
