London: World athletics chief Sebastian Coe has denied allegations of a conflict of interest over his ties with Nike and his role in the 2021 championships being awarded to the sportswear company’s home state.

Coe, head of the International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF), told the BBC on Tuesday: “I did not lobby anyone on behalf of the Eugene 2021 bid” in the US state of Oregon.

Nike started out in Eugene and is now based in Beaverton in the same state. Eugene was awarded the event without a bidding process, despite strong interest from the Swedish city of Gothenburg. “The situation was unusual but not unprecedented.

A bid process did not take place when Osaka was awarded the 2007 World Championships.

The process for bidding is already being reviewed as part of a reforms,” Coe said.