IOC Stops Payments to Kenya NOC

(ATR) The IOC tells Around the Rings that it has put a hold on all payments of subsidies to the Kenyan Olympic Committee (NOC-K).

The decision follows the failure by the NOC-K on Tuesday to implement an IOC-approved roadmap to new NOC elections. The constitution required a two-thirds majority to be passed. All 19 representatives from Kenyan sport federations voted in favor of the constitution, with the 13 member executive board voting against the proposal, according to local reports.

Representatives from the IOC and the Association of National Olympic Committees of Africa (ANOCA) were present for the vote. Requests for more information about the chaotic general assembly from ANOCA were not returned.

‘The IOC is extremely disappointed by the outcome of the NOC extraordinary General Assembly which did not address governance issues in the appropriate way," an IOC spokesperson tells ATR.

"This goes against the tripartite agreement (IOC-NOC-Government authorities) reached in September 2016 in Lausanne and the roadmap and discussions with the NOC over the last few months."

The spokesperson said the hold on payments is in effect "until a decision of the IOC Executive Board is taken at its meeting next week’. The executive board is gathering in PyeongChang from March 15-17.

The IOC has repeatedly expressed concern over the lack of autonomy for the NOC, especially after serious allegations against senior leadership following the Rio 2016 Games. Numerous NOC-K officials have been questioned for embezzling funds and athletic apparel from the Olympic team. In total five NOC-K officials were arrested, after which the government dissolved the NOC citing "mismanagement."

Written by Gerard Farekand Aaron Bauer

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