New deal paves way for UKA to be reformed

Scottish Athletics is to get a direct say in how UK Athletics is run for the first time after a new plan was agreed for the sport.

Sportscotland, UK Sport and the other sports councils are to oversee a reorganisation that will see the home nations integrated into an overall structure.

Scottish Athletics’ own funding will be linked to delivering on the deal which will see UKA reformed, and its Members Council potentially abolished, with the four home countries now allowed a seat on the board.

And UK Athletics, which has been rocked by ethical scandals including revelations over its relationship with now-banned coach Alberto Salazar, has been ordered to reform its culture and its communication strategy while looking for efficiencies that can help fund the grassroots.

But Scottish Athletics chief executive Mark Munro said: “I’m not sure we will have to change much of what we do but we will review our articles and policies to make sure we are in line.”

UK Sport have set UKA a deadline of December to complete the reforms with the athletics governing body’s new supremo Jo Adams poised to shake up the organisation ahead of the Tokyo Olympics.

Meanwhile it has been revealed that Bahrain’s Salwa Eid Naser, who won the world 400 metres title in Doha last October, has been handed a provisional ban for missing doping tests.

The 22-year-old, now facing a two-year suspension, struck gold in 48.14 seconds, the third-fastest 400m in history and the fastest in 34 years, as she upset Olympic champion Shaunae Miller-Uibo of the Bahamas.