Libyan Olympic Chief Set to Resign; New Leadership for Uzbekistan

Libyan Olympic Chief Set to Resign

The head of the Libyan Olympic Committee says he is preparing to resign following an investigation by the country’s Integrity Commission.

Speaking to Around the Rings, Nabil Elalem says the commission overstepped its boundaries and his name will be cleared, but the organization has made an "atmosphere not suitable for work."

At the heart of the issue was a recent decree that Elalem be removed as president of the LOC. He claims documents provided by unnamed individuals falsely say he is not supportive of the ideals borne of the Libyan Revolution of Feb. 17, a claim he rejects.

Elalem says he provided documents showing the "leading role" he played in the resistance movement in Tripoli, and his father was a key figure in establishing the Kingdom of Libya in 1951, which was overthrown by Moammar Khadafi.

Also, Elalem says the commission has no jurisdiction over the LOC.

"The integrity commission deals only with cases of people who want to elect themselves to governmental positions and not [non-governmental organizations]," he said, noting he has never applied for a government post.

Elalem says he explained this to the Commission chairman, who apologized for the overreach, but Elalem says he will persevere with the trial to clear his and his family’s name.

"The people behind this act used many ways to push me away, kidnapping, threats to my aids, sending letters to me with bullets on it and when they knew that can't do much they used the Integrity Commission because they know that if I go to elections I will win," he tells ATR.

"The Integrity Commission members are decent people but I blamed them because they made their decision without investigating me."

Elalem was kidnapped shortly before the London Olympics.

A court case is scheduled in two weeks with the commission, according to Elalem, and he says he is confident the courts will clear his name.

While he declined to specifically name who was behind the accusations and attacks, he did note two groups he believes are responsible: "corrupted NOC employees" who allegedly stole LOC funds and people "using the revolution as a tool to gain positions in Libyan Sport."

Elalem, an engineer by profession, was a judo and football official before becoming LOC president in October of 2011.

New Uzbek Olympic Committee Leadership

Usmanov Mirabror Zufarovich is the new president of the Uzbekistan National Olympic Committee.

Zufarovich replaces Malik Babaev, president since 2009. He comes to the NOC from the country’s football association.

According to a post on the NOC website, the election took place during the Dec. 29 General Assembly in Tashkent.

Kasymov Oybek Omilovich was elected secretary general. He also comes from the football association, and replaces Mukhamadali Karimov.

Written by Ed Hula III.

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