International Shooting Sport Federation Airs Dirty Laundry

(ATR)The International Shooting Sport Federation isinvestigating the politician at the center of abattle over autonomy of Kuwaiti sports organizations.

In a statement released on Monday, the ISSF ethics committee listed numerous charges againstSheikh Salman Sabah Al-Salem Al-Homud Al-Sabah, Kuwaiti minister of sports and youth.

According to the ISSF, the conflict between the "Kuwaiti government and the sports world" began last year whenSheikh Salman was unsuccessful in his push to unseat ISSF president Olegario Vazquez Rana.

"The ISSF experienced during Sheikh Salman's campaign to become ISSF president in 2014 that he showed little sensitivity for a democratic process, the autonomy of sports and ethical behavior within an election process," the ISSF says in its statement.

Charges against Sheikh Salman include speculation that he sent a letter to the South African minister of youth and sportswhile vying for the ISSF presidency last year.

The letter, according to the ISSF, stated that "the friendly relationship between our two countries is unchanged by mutual cooperation in projects related to youth and sport" and also requested "kind support" of Salman's campaign.

The ISSF alleges that the Kuwait Shooting Federation (KSF) sent invitations to ISSF member federations inviting them to the "H.H. The Amir of Kuwait 4th International Shooting Grand Prix" in Jan. 2015.

Prior to the ISSF presidential election, the KSF offered to provide airfares, accommodation, transportation and participation fees for an entire team for free. The KSF nominated Sheikh Salman, who later unsuccessfully challenged his election defeat at the Court of Arbitration for Sport.

"According to ISSF's knowledge this had never happened before, let alone less than two months before a president's election with a candidate nominated by the host making such offer," the ISSF statement said.

Other charges include a claim that campaign staff approached ISSF member officials offering financial assistance if they backed Sheikh Salman with their vote.There were also "strong indications," the ISSF says, that the Salman paid the membership fees for several ISSF members.

"Instead of accepting the democratic decision of the ISSF members, Sheikh Salman filed an appeal at the Court of Arbitration for Sport against the election of Olegario Vazquez Rana," the ISSF added.

"With his appeal, the Sheikh inter alia submitted various identical written witness statements in his desperate attempt to build a case against his defeat.

"However, the decisive declaration within these witness statements turned out to be incorrect after questioning the witnesses directly at the two-day hearing at CAS.Also for this reason CAS rejected the appeal."

Salman blames supporters of Olympic Council of Asia presidentSheikh Ahmad Al-Fahad Al-Sabah for his loss to Rana last year.

In its statement on Monday the ISSF expressed disappointment over "disturbing" charges brought against Sheikh Ahmad ."The ISSF notes with greatest concern that Sheikh Ahmad reportedly received a six-month prison sentence from a court in his native Kuwait for allegedly insulting the judiciary.

"This very disturbing news appears to be the next level of escalation of a dispute between the Kuwaiti Government and the sports world."

Ahmad, also president of ANOC,faces misdemeanor charges that stem from an interview three years ago on Kuwaiti TV in which he was critical of the overall situation with sport in Kuwait.An attorney for Sheikh Ahmad represented his client in a Dec. 10 court session held in Kuwait City.

Even though Ahmad is a member of the ruling family of Kuwait, heredity does not preclude the government from tangling with the Sheikh.

Written byNicole Bennett

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