New U.S. athletics chief vows to drive out doping cheat

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The United States' new athletics chief DougLogan pledged on Friday to drive doping cheats out of sport.

Logan was named CEO of USA Track & Field (USATF) on Thursday toreplace former distance runner Craig Masback, who quit in Januaryto become a marketing executive with Nike .

Logan, the former commissioner and president of Major League Soccer(MLS), said relying just on testing and disciplining offenderswould not solve the problem of doping.

"There needs to be a cultural reversal to how people look and feelabout the whole issue of cheating in this sport, in cycling, inteam sports," Logan said in a teleconference call.

"Hopefully, I'll be able to mobilize others and I plan to be a farmore passionate messenger in the sport about all the ways ofcheating.

"If you're cheating, get out. If you're suggesting as a coach oragent or personal manager to a young person to use some of thesesubstances, get out. We will find ways to get them out.

"What we have to do is change this horrible climate of suspicionover performance. If we don't address it in an aggressive way it'sgoing to choke the life out of the sport."

Logan, who led MLS from its 1995 inception through 1999 and has runa sports consulting firm since 2001, said athletics needed aregular domestic series building to a climax in non-Olympic yearsto spur its popularity in the U.S.

"Track and field needs to be put into a regular slot," he saidabout encouraging TV coverage and raising fan interest.

"I think we have a sport that everybody can relate to. It is seenas a red-blooded American sport," said Logan, adding that he wasdedicated to keeping the U.S. position at the top of medals tablesin the Olympics and world championships.