ANKARA, Aug. 1 (Xinhua -- The Turkish Athletics Federation (TAF) chairman Mehmet Terzi has quit office due to a series of damaging doping scandals that have hit the sport,Turkish Daily News reported Thursday.

"Thanks to the board members for the support they have showed to me, but I thought it would be right that I step down," Terzi said in a statement released on the TAF website.

A former gold medal-winning marathon runner, Mehmet Terzi has been leading the TAF since December 2004. During his nine-year spell, Turkish athletics have enjoyed unprecedented highs, as well as devastating lows.

Recently, The International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF) suspended nine Turkish track and field athletes due to doping charges. Since the start of the year, at least 19 Turkish athletes tested positive for banned substances.

"Unfortunately, it is a fact that so many anti-doping crimes were committed outside my and technical staff's control," Terzi said, highlighting that the number of positive tests was only 12 last year.

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