September 13 - USA Track and Field (USATF) today fired its chief executive Doug Logan, who had adopted a hardline approach to dealing with the sport's endemic drug problem.



Logan, 67, met for 45 minutes with the board of directors yesterday to try and iron out their differences.

The board then met alone where they voted to oust Logan, who proposed a number of tough new changes during his short term.

His firing comes two years after the USA won a disappointing 23 medals at the Beijing Olympics and less than two years ahead of the 2012 London Games.

The former Major League Soccer (MLS) Commissioner became chief just before those Games and set in motion a major review of USATF after the United States athletics team's poor showing in Beijing.

Chief operating officer Mike McNees will take over Logan's job on a temporary basis until a new chief executive can be hired.

Board President Stephanie Hightower defended the firing and denied critics claims that USATF is in administrative shambles.

"This is not a headless horse running around right now," Hightower said.

Logan said some, but not all, were not happy with what he was trying to accomplish.

"I knew my agenda was going to make some uncomfortable and that it was not going to be popular," Logan said.

"I knew there would be people that were going to be upset and uncomfortable with the changes we were trying to introduce.

"At the end of the day, the people who were upset over what I did prevailed."

Logan had said he wanted to field a clean team for the London Olympics and win at least 30 medals.

"Change never comes in an environment of comfort," he said.

"It usually comes in an environment of discomfort."

Logan's contract ran through 2013, and his sacking could result in a settlement approaching $1 million (£649,000).

"[After] a thorough review of our financial positioning, financial opportunities and the potential cost of a settlement, at the end of the day we thought the leadership change was best for the sport," said Jack WIckens, the vice-chairman of USATF.


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