International Olympic Committee part ways with SportAccord

The International Olympic Committee has joined many other members in suspending ties with SportsAccord

Laussane (Switzerland), June 8 (IANS): The International Olympic Committee (IOC) announced the suspension of its recognition of SportAccord after the executive board meeting here.

SportAccord is the umbrella organisation for all Olympic and non-Olympic international sports federations as well as organisers of multi-sports games and sport-related international associations.

The umbrella body's president Marius Vizer, attending a meeting in Sochi, Russia, in April attacked the IOC's leadership over international sports federations, reports Xinhua.

His comments, accusing the IOC of being dated, lacking transparency and blocking creations, caused a wave of withdrawal and departures of international federations from SportAccord.

Mark Adams, IOC director of communications, told a briefing after Sunday's executive board meeting that the IOC will stop offering funding for SportAccord until it completes reorganisation.

"Like many members of SportAccord, we are suspending our recognition and we will withhold our funding until these questions are answered and an agreement between the stakeholders has been reached," said Adams.

The IOC provides almost $200,000 to SportAccord annually to help fund anti-doping programs for federations and other functions.

"The International Olympic Committee will continue its ongoing and direct relationship with the International Federations," said Adams.

"We encourage and support them in all the initiatives being taken to restructure their representation following the serious internal problems of SportAccord."

"We would like to invite the representatives of different groups to further discuss this issue and to come to an agreement among all stakeholders," he added.

In the meantime, the IOC promised to continue to offer "all the services and advice in the fight against doping which so far has been offered by SportAccord and financed by the IOC and World Anti-Doping Association".