Lord Coe says he is too busy to speak to MPs again after allegations he misled parliament over his knowledge of Russian doping 

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Lord Coe has denied misleading MPs over what he knew about Russian doping, but argued he is too busy running world athletics to talk to them again.

The IAAF president also admitted he felt ‘personal sadness’ after his former right-hand man Nick Davies was expelled from the IAAF for lying about accepting a £25,000 payment.

Coe told a select committee in December 2015 that he was ‘not aware’ of specific claims about Russian doping and cover-ups until December 2014. 

IAAF president Lord Coe has denied misleading MPs over what he knew about Russian doping

But the publication of new emails last month confirmed he has been ‘made aware’ of allegations four months earlier in August 2014.

The peer has resisted calls to reappear in front of MPs, exercising his right to stay away as a member of the House of Lords.

Coe told the BBC: ‘I didn’t mislead any select committee. I have a global sport to run across 214 countries. They have a report to write. I have furnished that committee with every piece of information that they have asked of me.

‘I have appeared for over three hours not that long ago and this is a situation for me that is very important to be able to focus on all of the things that we've talked about.’

Coe has argued he is too busy running world athletics to talk to the select committee again

Coe also said he did not want his ‘friend’ Davies to lose his job at the IAAF for hiding a payment for covering up positive drugs tests.

Asked if Davies had been treated leniently by not being given a life ban from athletics by the IAAF Ethics Commission, Coe said: ‘The ethics board reported and it's a matter of personal sadness to me.

‘Is he a friend of mine? Yes absolutely. It's not an outcome that anybody wanted.’

Coe admitted he felt ‘personal sadness’ after his right-hand man Nick Davies was expelled