Outgoing IAAF president Lamine Diack has been named an honorary citizen of Beijing.
The 82-year-old from Senegal, a former Olympic long jumper, is set to step down after becoming part of the IAAF executive in 1976.
He first became President in 1999, and was re-elected 4 times afterward.
Diack is set to be replaced by London Organizing Committee chief Sebastian Coe.
Diack says he believes his successor will be able to handle the doping problems the IAAF has been coping with.
"He is big enough and strong enough to cope with these allegations. And to face-up to these problems to show that wrong accusations are indeed wrong accusations. He loves this sport and he is very experienced and he will do his job. He will do a great job."
The 58-year-old Coe will formally take over the position on August 31st after this year's IAAF World Championships wrap up in Beijing.
The event itself is set to begin this Saturday.
