Former athletics chief Norman dies

Andy Norman, once touted as the most powerful man in British athletics, died yesterday as he arrived back in Britain after a weekend working at the world athletics final in Stuttgart.

Norman, 64, who was married to the former javelin world record holder and world champion Fatima Whitbread until the couple split almost three years ago, remained one of the key figures in the sport worldwide.

He had lost any official status in Britain 13 years ago after he was dismissed from his position as the promotions officer at the British Athletic Federation after the coroner implicated him in the suicide of Cliff Temple, the former Sunday Times journalist. Yet Norman had an important role in the sport both in Europe and South Africa and during his career represented many of Britain's top athletes including Jonathan Edwards, the triple jump world record holder, and Kelly Holmes, Britain's double Olympic gold medallist.

Holmes was left stunned when she heard the news last night of the death of Norman who was her first manager back in the early 1990s and was instrumental on setting her on the road to the success which saw her win the 800 metres and 1500m in Athens in 2004.

Holmes said: "I am shocked. Andy has been at the core of British athletics and he played a big part in my career. In terms of racing on the circuit, he started me off as an athlete, he got me into races and I remember in Stockholm one year he said follow that girl - indicating Maria Mutola."

Holmes and Mutola eventually became training partners and the Briton succeeded the Mozambique star as the Olympic 800m champion.

Holmes added: "I remember the 1994 European Championships in Helsinki, Andy's told me to follow the Russians. I finished second. He said to me what