(ATR) The IOC Executive Board suspended Frank Fredericks on Tuesday from all privileges as a member after waiting for a recommendation from its Ethics Commission.
The Ethics Commission, which met Monday in Lausanne, recommended suspension despite saying "it is not in a position to make a recommendation on the value of the facts". Consideration for the "impact on the reputation of the IOC" was the reasoning behind recommending a suspension, an IOC statement said.
"The Commission once again ‘recalled the importance of respecting the principle of the presumption of innocence for any person concerned by a criminal investigation’"
Fredericks was charged on Nov. 3in an alleged scheme to purchase votes ahead of the 2009 IOC Session. He testified in France the day before about a $299,000 payment to an offshore bank account on October 2, 2009.
The payment came from Papa Massata Diack, the son of disgraced ex-IAAF president Lamine Diack, on the same day Fredericks and other IOC members voted for the 2016 Olympic host. The Diacks are both suspected by French authorities of organizing the vote-buying scheme. But Fredericks maintains that the payment was connected to his work developing athletics among African youth, not a bribe for his vote.
Fredericks is one of multiple current and honorary IOC members charged as part of the scheme. Honorary IOC member Carlos Nuzman was suspended by the IOC after being arrested on corruption charges in Rio de Janeiro.
The Executive Board said it took note of the Ethics Commission ruling and "reiterated the full commitment of the IOC to cooperate with the French judicial authorities" during its investigation.
"Considering the gravity and urgency of the situation and its impact on the reputation of the IOC, the IOC EB decides to suspend Mr Frank Fredericks from all the rights, prerogatives and functions deriving from his quality as an IOC Member," the EB said in a statement.
Homepage photo: Getty Images
Written by Aaron Bauer and Ed Hula
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