Athletics counter-attack - starts rebellion after the bout

"The goal is to create a more exciting and global league that is faster to implement," said the International Athletics Association, IAAF's Sebastian Coe on Wednesday when the message came that the discus and three-step were being expelled from the athletics finery, the Diamond League.

Athletics stars around the world have reacted strongly. On Thursday, the three-step shopper and big poster name Christian Taylor went out and started a trade union, athletes' union.

Daniel Ståhl's coach Vesteinn Hafsteinsson himself received Wednesday's message with great sadness. He went underground for two days to collect energy.

Today he raises the lid for the first time.

- The reaction when it came from my side was that I got completely shaky, it spun in my head and it felt like I was paralyzed in the legs. There was some kind of shock at all. I had somehow expected it, but when it came it was almost like a death when my parents died. I can only compare it, I was just shocked. I'm still shocked. That was the first reaction and because of that I didn't answer any calls that night, I needed to digest this, he tells SVT Sport.

What are you most upset about?

- You are upset that you have dedicated your life to a sport, that our international association intends to remove the branch from the finery along with three steps in some kind of blind market strategy instead of looking at the whole. The discus is a symbol of athletics and the largest Olympic sport. Then Sebastian Coe and company can take that branch out of the dining room. I can't understand it. I don't think any coach or practitioner can understand that, and it is now evident with the uprising and movement that Christan Taylor, the world's best three-step rider, set in motion and now formed a new trade union. I am extremely pleased with it.

In the aftermath, Daniel Ståhl and his coach have taken the initiative for a riot. Today, they go out in an open letter describing their dissatisfaction. Something they now hope to become global.

"Dear Lord Coe," they begin the letter.

“There is no evidence that 90 minutes of athletics is the answer to this, and by using it as the main reason, you have positioned yourself in a corner that has led to these unnecessary changes. Athletics is not football and should not be performed that way. "

For SVT Sport, Hafsteinsson develops its reasoning.

- We are cursed and saddened by the situation. We wrote a letter October 1 with solutions and possibilities. We came up with several solutions, but at the same time we would like to point out that the discusters are loyal to the Diamond League and that the discus is better than ever. We think it is completely reprehensible and that is why we are writing this. We do not accept this. Culturally and historically you throw away the foundations of athletics in some kind of market space. We do not accept it. Athletics are athletics, there is room for everyone. I cannot understand that my idol Sebastian Coe - he is no longer - can stand behind this. I don't understand what's going on in that man's head. I would like to clear out the entire IAAF board. I have no problem saying that I would be very happy if Sebastian Coe resigns.

What will the consequences of this be?

- This is the biggest scandal I've been through in my life. It is absolutely incredible that you can imagine throwing out certain sports and discriminating against people. The consequence is that people quit. I've heard that Lukas Weisshaidinger, who was third in the World Cup, quits if this gets lost. I have said that I also quit. When this came up, I still quit. Do you think that is my wish? No absolutely not. But if it stands this is still relevant. I mean that. At the same time, I have taken the fight now instead and now lead this initiative, this open letter, to be mocked in the world. I'm going to take this fight now, and we're going to war and counter-attack against IAAF.

You are taking the fight now, but you are declining if it stands?

- I can't keep a promise to something I've been doing all my life. But at the same time, I am completely honest with my first reaction when I got this was that I told my family that I was leaving. I had no energy to fight. But now I am struggling and I have written this letter, with the help of others. Now we take the fight and we see what it leads to.