ETHIOPIA: Haile Gebrselassie resigns as president

The deputy president of Ethiopia’s athletics federation, Gebereegziabhair Geberemaariam has described as a huge loss the unexpected resignation of the organisation’s president, Haile Gebrselassie.

The distance running champion resigned on Monday, saying certain groups were violating the principles of athletics and trying to undermine his authority.

On Sunday, athletes from the country’s largest region, Oromia, protested against his leadership and the quality of training facilities.

Haile Gebrselassie has spent his two years in the job trying to clean up Ethiopian sport, but said he only achieved about a third of what he had hoped to.

Sources says the long-distance athlete, Derartu Tullu, is widely expected to replace him.