Sergey Bubka has vowed to continue serving athletics in any capacity after losing the International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF) presidential election to Sebastian Coe.

Ukrainian Bubka has held positions with the Ukraine National Olympic Committee, the International Olympic Committee and the IAAF, and was attempting to step up from his position as vice president with athletics' governing body.

However, it was Briton Coe - a gold medallist in the 1,500 metres at the 1980 and 1984 Olympic Games - who was chosen to succeed Lamine Diack in Wednesday's vote in China, with 115 votes to Bubka's 92.

Bubka congratulated his fellow candidate on winning the ballot, and plans to continue in athletics in some capacity.

"First of all, I would like to congratulate Seb Coe on his campaign, which gave us great opportunities to discuss many challenges of our sport, communicate with our member federations, and share our vision for the future of athletics," Bubka said via a statement on his official website. 

"From the very bottom of my heart, I would like to thank the member federations who voted for my candidacy as IAAF President as well as for my Vice-Presidency role.

"Thanks a lot to my family and my team who supported and assisted me throughout all these months - we've done a fantastic job together.

"I will continue to serve athletics as I've done during all my life in any position our athletics family trusts me to hold.

"I wish good luck to the new IAAF President and remain committed to the ideas and proposals I delivered throughout my campaign."