Nebiolo, who headed World athletics for 18 years, was re-elected unopposed for a four-year term at Seville, Spain this August during the World Championship.

Nebiolo's death robs athletics and athletes of the man who dragged the sport into the era of commercialism and made it professional. Nebiolo revelled in calling the athletes his family and that he was their father. However, this was a father who never allowed his authority to be challenged ever since he took over from Dutchman Adriaan Paulen in 1981.

Nebiolo faced criticism mainly from the English press, who regularly lampooned him and on several occasions questioned his business dealings. A large part of thecriticism emanated from the fact he had moved IAAF headquarters from England to the tax haven of Monaco and replaced a lot of the British staff with Italians.

Since taking over control of IAAF, Nebiolo turned the sport into a multi-million dollar business. The latest IAAF accounts show revenue of over 54 million dollars.

There had been reports about Nebiolo's health and in August an English paper said the Italian was suffering from prostate cancer.

DIACK SUCCESSOR: Lamine Diack, IAAF senior vice-president, was appointed interim president as successor to Nebiolo. The 66-year-old Senegalese will remain in the post until the next IAAF Congress in Edmonton in 2001. The announcement belied rumours that Nebiolo's poor health had spurred jockeying among challengers.

FRIEND OF INDIA: Indian athletics federation President Suresh Kalmadi condoled Nebiolo's death, saying from Pune, ``In the last IAAF meeting in Seville, Nebiolo took personal interest to get India its first Grand Prix meet, to beheld next year. The meet will be held in his memory.'' Indian Olympic Association secretary general Randhir Singh said in Delhi, ``Nebiolo was a friend of India. Sports has lost a great leader who took athletics to dizzy heights of professionalism after attracting millions of dollars through sponsorships.''

FACT FILE

Born: 14 July 1923
Married: Giovanna (no children)
Athletics administration:

1961-99: President of International University Sport Federation
1969-89: President of the Italian Athletics Federation
1972-81: Member of council, IAAF
1981-1999: President, IAAF
1983-1999: President of Association of Summer Olympic International Federations
1978-89: Vice-president, Italian National Olympic Committee
1992: Nominated member of IOC by President, Juan Antonio Samaranch.