Coe, Bubka confirmed as only 2 candidates for IAAF president

MONACO (AP) Sebastian Coe and Sergei Bubka will be the only two candidates in the IAAF presidential election.

The final list of candidates was released Friday by the International Association of Athletics Federations.

As expected, the two track and field greats were the only two names in the running to replace Lamine Diack, who is stepping down after serving as president since 1999. The vote will be held on Aug. 19 at the IAAF congress in Beijing on the eve of the world championships.

Bubka, of Ukraine, is a former Olympic pole vault champion who set 35 world records. Coe is a former British middle-distance star who won two Olympic gold medals in the 1,500 meters and set numerous world records.

Hedging his bets in case of defeat, Bubka also put his name down as a candidate for one of the four vice president's seats. Coe is only entered for president.