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Athletes have "lost faith" in their governing body after a report said "corruption was embedded" within the IAAF, said British runner Jo Pavey.
The European 10,000m champion questioned whether the sport can police itself with the IAAF accused of helping to cover up doping in Russia.
"As athletes at the moment we've all lost confidence in the IAAF," she said.
But she joined former British athletes including Paula Radcliffe and Roger Black in backing president Lord Coe.
A report commissioned by the World Anti-Doping Agency and released on Thursday was heavily critical of the organization, but author Dick Pound said he "could not think of anyone better" than Coe to lead reform.
Admitting the IAAF - the International Association of Athletics Federations - was a "failed organization" and that the sport was at a crossroads, 59-year-old Coe said: "We have to make sure we redouble our efforts to be very clear with people that we are not in denial."
World marathon record holder Radcliffe believes the 2016 Rio Olympics will be cleaner than the London Games four years ago, while 1996 Olympic 400m silver medalist Black believes the sport can move forward.
But fellow former British athlete Kriss Akabusi questioned how Coe, who was vice-president for eight years before taking over from the shamed Lamine Diack, could not have known about the extent of systematic doping.
"I find it very difficult for Lord Coe to say he's got absolutely no clue - the only way is if a vice-president is a titular position that has no real contact with the sport," said the ex-400m runner, who won two bronze medals at the 1992 Olympics.
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