Osaka to host 2007 world athletics championships

The 2007 world championships will be held in Osaka, the International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF) announced on Friday.

"Osaka presented a very impressive bid for 2007," IAAF President Lamine Diack said.

"The technical facilities, which include the 50,000 seat Nagai stadium, are excellent and Japan has organised many athletics competitions in the past -- including the memorable 1991 world championships in Tokyo.

"I would also like to stress that of the first 10 editions of the world championships up until 2005, only two will have been held outside Europe.

"I believe the IAAF has a responsibility, as the world governing body, to rotate our biggest event, as long as the highest standards of organisation are guaranteed," Diack added.

Apart from Tokyo in 1991, the only other world championships held outside of Europe were in 2001 in Edmonton, Canada.

Although Budapest and Berlin had initially stated an interest in hosting the 2007 world championships, both cities withdrew before the final bid deadline of October 1.

The proposed dates for the championships are August 24 to September 2, subject to IAAF Council approval.

SUSPEND ATHLETES

The IAAF's Anti-Doping Commission report showed that 2,385 doping controls were conducted under the auspices of the IAAF both in and out-of-competition in 2002 up to November 1.

There were also 123 EPO tests in 2002 with the testing guidelines being revised for 2003.

The IAAF also approved a number of other changes for the forthcoming year.

It was agreed that the Council's Doping Review Board should be able to suspend athletes pending a Court of Arbitration in Sport (CAS) hearing. The board has previously only been able to refer cases to the CAS.

Madrid and Ostrava have been included in the 2003 Super Grand Prix series for a probation period of a year after which they will have to prove they have met "relevant criteria and requirements".

The IAAF has also recommended that marathon races at the 2004 Olympic Games in Athens start at 1900 local time so athletes are spared having to run in extreme heat. The only other option being examined is a 0700 start.

Qualifying standards for the world championships in Paris have also been made easier for the men's 400 metres, the women's long jump and the men's 20km and 50km walks.