Hewitt calls for Allatson's head - Sports News - Fanatics - the world's biggest events

Hewitt calls for Allatson's head

02/03/2004 06:51:07 PM Comments (0)

One of Australia's highest profile athletes, sprinter Lauren Hewitt, has called for Athletics Australia boss Simon Allatson to be sacked.

She questioned where Allatson was directing funds after it was revealed the sporting body accumulated debts of $1.3 million and said athletics would be better off without him.

Hewitt's outburst was the latest in a long-running feud within athletics ranks.

The fighting came to a head during the weekend's Olympic selection trials in Sydney when distance running coach Said Aouita threatened to quit the country because he was sick of the squabbles with Victorian runners.

By the end of the four-day meeting, former world record holder Aouita had shifted his attack to Australia's head coach Keith Connor, accusing him of being a control freak who refused to allow Aouita to do his job.

Hewitt highlighted the frustration athletes felt about the troubles within the sport when she received her gold medal on Sunday after winning the 200m.

Athletics Australia (AA) chairman Andrew Forrest presented the 25-year-old Victorian with her medal and Hewitt gave him a piece of her mind.

"He asked me how I was and I said that I would be better if the CEO of Athletics Australia (Allatson) would resign," she told the Seven network.

"And if they think that everything they are doing is correct at the moment, then we believe that we need a new person put in that place."

Hewitt said there was no evidence of money being pumped into junior ranks or directed to the sport's elite athletes.

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