Intro:

Vice-President of the IAAF Lord Sebastian Coe said on Tuesday he has "big problems" with American sprinter Justin Gatlin, who has been convicted of doping in the past, being nominated for World Athlete of the Year.

Script:

SOUNDBITE (English) Sebastian Coe, Chair of London 2012 Local Organising Committee and IAAF vice-president:
(On research showing anabolic steroids have an effect beyond the period when an athlete uses them)

"The effect is certainly not transient and we've seen that in the performance of athletes for some time. I've sensed for a long time in fact, and you've heard me say this before, but I do think sanctions have to take into consideration the extended effects that anabolic steroids and performance enhancing drugs can have on a career even when an athlete is clean."

SOUNDBITE (English) Sebastian Coe, Chair of London 2012 Local Organising Committee and IAAF vice-president:
(On if he feels comfortable with American sprinter Justin Gatlin being nominated for IAAF world athlete of the year)

"What would you say if I said to you that I feel comfortable about somebody who is nominated to win one of the biggest prizes in sport? The only thing I would say is he is entitled to be competing. I'm not particularly comfortable about it, I think you'd be surprised if I did sit here and was sanguine about that, but no I personally have big problems with that."