This story is free to read.

Coe to AP: Track and field faces ‘declaration of war’

International Association of Athletics Federations President Lamine Diack, right, speaks with a fellow International Olympic Committee member during the 128th IOC session in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia Monday, Aug. 3, 2015. Three weeks before the world championships, athletics was thrown into turmoil by new accusations of widespread doping and experts denouncing an anti-doping system compromised by leniency. German broadcaster ARD and The Sunday Times newspaper in Britain said they obtained access to the results of 12,000 blood tests from 5,000 athletes. The files came from the database of the IAAF and were leaked by a whistleblower, according to the reports. The IAAF said it was aware of "serious allegations made against the integrity and competence of its anti-doping program." (AP Photo/Joshua Paul) International Association of Athletics Federations President Lamine Diack, right, speaks with a fellow International Olympic Committee member during the 128th IOC session in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia Monday, Aug. 3, 2015. Three weeks before the world championships, athletics was thrown into turmoil by new accusations of widespread doping and experts denouncing an anti-doping system compromised by leniency. German broadcaster ARD and The Sunday Times newspaper in Britain said they obtained access to the results of 12,000 blood tests from 5,000 athletes. The files came from the database of the IAAF and were leaked by a whistleblower, according to the reports. The IAAF said it was aware of "serious allegations made against the integrity and competence of its anti-doping program." (AP Photo/Joshua Paul)

By Associated Press August 4, 2015 1 min read

LONDON (AP) – Sebastian Coe tells The Associated Press that the latest doping allegations leveled against track and field are “a declaration of war.”

Coe, a vice president of the International Association of Athletics Federations, vigorously defends the IAAF’s drug-testing system and says it is time to “come out fighting” to protect the reputation of the sport.

In an exclusive interview with the AP, Coe says he takes “grave exception” to the reports by German and British media outlets alleging that the IAAF had failed to act on suspicious blood tests involving hundreds of athletes over a 10-year period.

He says “this is a seminal moment” and “we cannot be portrayed as a sport that is in any way dragging our heels.”