London, photo by PhotoRun.net
FRANKFURT (GER): Reuters informs that adidas is monitoring how world athletics is dealing with a doping scandal while its current sponsorship deal still runs, the firm’s chief executive said on Thursday. “We have not terminated our contract (with the International Association of Athletics Federations),” Herbert Hainer told a newsconference to present his company’s annual results.
Editor’s note: adidas is no dummy. You do not get to be the second largest sports company in the world without some good days and bad days. Herbet Hainer has run adidas for nearly a decade, to step down in August. A CEO who does not way all of his options, ie., even with what adidas has felt as less than stellar treatment during its time at the IAAF, is not doing his or her job. In the end, adidas will do what is best for its brand and its shareholders. It is Seb Coe’s job to provide Hainer reasons to stay with the IAAF. Anyone who thinks that one brand owning everying in sports is good, is just silly. For the sport to thrive, many brands need to be supporting our sport.
The recent drug positives in Kenya, Ethiopia and other places means that the IAAF is pursuing the cheaters. I hope that they do more. Want to bring in new sponsors? Clean up the sport with vigilance.
