Athletics: Foster leads tributes to Gold's work

Brendan Foster yesterday led the tributes to Sir Arthur Gold CBE, one of the most influential athletics officials of his generation and a pioneering anti-drugs campaigner.

Gold, known as one of the sport's great Corinthian administrators, died on Saturday in London at the age of 85. "He did a professional job for countless years for athletics on an amateur, unpaid, basis," Foster, the former Olympic, European and Commonwealth medallist and close friend, said.

"When the sport finally turned totally professional he helped guide the important changes through. His knowledge of the sport was unbelievable and his enthusiasm for athletics unmatchable.

"Sir Arthur was a backbone for many years and his list of appointments clearly shows the massive contribution he made during a lifetime's involvement at almost every level."

During his time in athletics Gold served on the European AA as a council member and president, the British Amateur Athletics Board and the British Olympic Association. He also led the British athletics teams at three Olympic Games and three Commonwealth Games.

In addition he also served as chairman of both the Sports Council Drug Abuse Advisory Committee and the European Sports Confederation Drug Abuse Advisory Group.

Gold earned his living in the motor industry and once turned down a full-time post with the British Athletics Federation on the grounds that the sport could not afford such a position.

His death was announced during the two-day CAU Inter-Counties Championships at Bedford.