The International Olympic Committee (IOC) has implemented new election regulations that could potentially prevent World Athletics President Sebastian Coe from running for the IOC presidency in the upcoming elections scheduled for March next year. According to The Associated Press, these clarifications come just before the Sunday deadline to enter the race to succeed current IOC President Thomas Bach.

Eligibility Challenges for Sebastian Coe

The challenges facing Coe, the 67-year-old leader of World Athletics, were detailed in a letter from the IOC ethics commission addressed to its 111 members, including Coe and other potential candidates. The letter emphasized that to be eligible, candidates must be IOC members “on election day and during the entire duration of their term as IOC President.” Coe’s IOC membership is tied to his role at World Athletics, which he must vacate in 2027 after serving a 12-year term, thereby complicating his eligibility for the IOC presidency.

Additionally, the IOC’s age restriction of 70 could present issues for another potential candidate, Juan Antonio Samaranch Jr., possibly preventing him from completing a full term if elected.

“The president is an IOC member under the same conditions as all the other members,” the letter, signed by Ethics Commission Chair Ban Ki Moon, stated. The ethics commission also highlighted concerns about holding dual presidential roles, suggesting that Coe’s leadership of World Athletics might pose a conflict of interest if he were to become IOC president.

Upcoming IOC Session and Presidential Election

The IOC is set to hold its 143rd session in Athens, Greece, from March 18th to 21st next year, during which the 10th president and the host city for the 5th Winter Olympics will be selected. Other potential candidates for the IOC presidency include Kirsty Coventry, David Lappartient, Prince Feisal al-Hussein, and Nicole Hoevertsz.

Current IOC President Thomas Bach has confirmed he will step down in 2025 after completing his 12-year term, with the next election slated for March in Greece. Notably, in the IOC’s 130-year history, all nine presidents have been men, with none hailing from Latin America, Africa, or Asia.

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