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USA Track and Field has sacked its chief executive Doug Logan after two years.

The former Major League Soccer commissioner became chief executive just before the 2008 Olympics and kicked off a major review of USATF after the US athletics team's poor showing in Beijing. The review led to a number of controversial proposals for change.

The decision to oust Logan came after a meeting in Las Vegas at the weekend, USATF said in a statement on Monday (September 13).

"The board decided based upon the [performance] evaluation [of Logan] the organisation needed a different kind of leadership in order to get the results that we need," USATF president and board chairman Stephanie Hightower told Reuters.

Logan's hands-on leadership style and desire for change upset some within the organisation but others claimed those were not the reasons for his dismissal. There had also been rumours about concerns over his ability to find new sponsors.

"I am deeply disappointed to be leaving USATF," Logan told Reuters.

"I am proud of the record I and my staff have achieved in the course of the two-plus years.

“Change never comes in an environment of comfort. It usually comes in an environment of discomfort."

Logan's contract ran until 2013 and the decision to dismiss him could result in a settlement approaching $1m.

USATF vice-chairman Jack Wickens added: "[After] a thorough review of our financial positioning, financial opportunities and the potential cost of a settlement, at the end of the day we thought the leadership change was best for the sport.”

Chief operating officer Mike McNees will assume day-to-day control of USATF until a new chief executive is appointed.

Asked if Logan was the right choice when hired in July 2008, Hightower revealed she had abstained from voting on his selection.

"I did not have enough information and did not think the process was transparent enough," she said.