The International Association of Athletics Federations has agreed to a long-term partnership with Asics Corp., according to people familiar with the matter, giving the global governing body of track and field a new outfitting sponsor after Adidas AG terminated its agreement early.

Terms of the agreement weren't immediately available. The IAAF is expected to announce the partnership with the Japanese athletic-gear maker on Saturday, during its council meeting in Monaco. Baltimore-based Under Armour Inc. was also a final bidder for the sponsorship, the people said.

The IAAF has been dogged in recent years by allegations of corruption, and the sport of track and field has been marred by revelations of state-sponsored doping in Russia. In recent months, IAAF President Sebastian Coe has traveled around the world on a roadshow, proposing governance reforms which are expected to be voted upon on Saturday.

Adidas was in the late stage of an 11-year partnership with the governing body, signed in 2008, but decided to cut it short earlier this year, according to a person familiar with the matter. Adidas said Friday it "will continue to remain committed to the sport of athletics by putting a higher focus on individual athletes."

The German sportswear maker in recent years has moved away from league deals and has focused on signing more individual athletes and spending more in the critical U.S. market. Its contract to outfit the National Basketball Association will expire next year.

Asics recently finished a long-term partnership as outfitter of the New York City Marathon, the world's largest. The company reported consolidated sales of about $3.8 billion last year.

Official outfitting partners of the IAAF typically are given exclusive rights to supply licensed products for events like the world track-and-field championships. The rights don't apply to professional athletes, most of whom have their own individual sponsors or compete in their national uniforms. Nike Inc. has been particularly aggressive in recent years about signing and retaining top individual track-and-field talent.

Write to Sara Germano at sara.germano@wsj.com

(END) Dow Jones Newswires

December 02, 2016 16:05 ET (21:05 GMT)