Coe can ‘change athletics’ with IAAF presidency: Mo Farah

London, Aug 18: International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF) vice-president Sebastian Coe would "change athletics" if he becomes head of the body, says double-Olympic champion Mo Farah.

The 58-year-old Coe is running for IAAF presidency against Ukrainian ex-pole vaulter Sergey Bubka.

"He can do a great job. I hope Seb gets the job because he can change athletics," Farah, the reigning 5 km and 10 km Olympic champion, was quoted as saying by BBC on Monday.

Coe has pledged to increase resources in the "battle for the sport's integrity" and has vowed to set up an independent anti-doping agency for athletics.

Farah, 32, said: "What Lord Coe did for London 2012 was incredible. I don't want to see anything bad in athletics because it's the sport that I do every day and the sport that I love."

Outgoing IAAF president Diack says he is confident about the future as the sport prepares to elect his replacement. The 82-year-old Senegalese has run the governing body for 16 years.

He said at the opening day of the 99th IAAF Council on Monday, "I have laid the foundations for the future of the IAAF with our two great champions. Whoever the athletics family elects he will be a bona fide son of our sport. I am all the more confident of what we have in store."

The vote will be held on August 19 at the IAAF congress in Beijing on the eve of the World Championships.