Olympic sports bodies criticised World Athletics on Friday for promising to pay $50,000 for each track and field gold medal won at the Paris Olympics.

Last week’s move by the track body and its president Sebastian Coe broke tradition because the International Olympic Committee does not pay prize money, though many state governments and national Olympic bodies do.

“For many, this move undermines the values of Olympism and the uniqueness of the games,” the Association of Summer Olympic International Federations, known by the acronym ASOIF, said Friday.

It also fueled speculation about the IOC presidential contest next year when Thomas Bach’s 12-year limit expires. However, his allies want the Olympic Charter changed to let him stay while Coe turns 68 this year and could be stopped by age limit rules.

Coe pledged $2.4 million — $50,000 for each of 48 gold medals in track and field — from his sport’s share of the IOC’s multi-billion dollar income.

A former lawmaker in the British parliament, Coe said the money acknowledged that “athletes are the stars of
the show.”

“There has been consensus that Olympic revenues should, at least for the more commercially successful and financially independent IFs, be invested as a priority into development and integrity matters,” said ASOIF, based in Lausanne.

The timing of Coe’s pledge also surprised many as it came one day after the ASOIF annual meeting, held in Birmingham, England, and he is a member of its ruling council.

“During the last days, ASOIF’s membership has expressed several concerns about World Athletics’ announcement,” the group said.

“One should not put a price on an Olympic gold and, in many cases, Olympic medalists indirectly benefit from commercial endorsements,” ASOIF said. “This disregards the less privileged athletes lower down the final standings.”