Coates hits back

John Coates says he’s victim of a vindictive campaign to oust him as Australian Olympic Committee president. Ahead of a May 6 vote for the presidency — when Coates will be challenged by Olympian Danni Roche — he says in a letter to the AOC the campaign against him is malicious. He also rejects claims of bullying. The letter comes amid claims of bullying within the AOC from former staff including ex-chief executive Fiona de Jong.