Jean Gracia appointed IAAF CEO

The IAAF has named Jean Gracia as its interim chief executive officer and general secretary.

Gracia's appointment is part of the restructuring of the government body as set out by Sebastian Coe upon being elected IAAF president last September.

The 61-year-old is to fulfil the positions while the IAAF makes a full-time appointment, a process it hopes to finish by mid-2016.

The Frenchman has held several roles within athletics, including executive director, and general director of the French Athletic Federation, and he is also the vice president of European Athletics.

Coe commented: "Jean Garcia, who is a former general secretary of the French Federation and a current vice [resident of European Athletics, brings vast experience and will assist the continued smooth running of the association in the interim.

"He will act as the focal point for all our Member Federations and partners, and support me with work involving the Executive Board and Council."

Coe has spoken of his desire to restructure the IAAF which has come under severe scrutiny with athletics engulfed in a corruption crisis.

An independent commission led by the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) released the second part of its report last week.

It was claimed in the report that "corruption was imbedded" within the IAAF and that members of its Council must have known about the extent of doping within athletics.

Former president Lamine Diack is also under investigation by French prosecutors amid allegations he received payments to cover up failed drugs tests from Russian athletes.