Admin l Monday, Nov 26, 2018
LAGOS, Nigeria – President , Association of National Olympic Committees (ANOC) Sheikh Ahmad Al-Fahad Al-Sabah has resigned as President of the association. He also withdrew his membership of the International Olympic Committee(IOC).
His decision to step aside from both organisations takes effect from 28th November, 2018. His decision was ratified during the IOC Executive Board (EB) telepone meeting today, following his indictment for crime punishable with imprisonment of two to five years.
The IOC decised among others:
“To take note of and confirm the report and recommendations of the IOC Ethics Commission regarding the situation of IOC Member and ANOC President Sheikh Ahmad Al-Fahad Al-Sabah (see annex, 22 November 2018).
“To take note of the decision by Sheikh Ahmad Al-Fahad Al-Sabah to temporarily suspend himself from all his rights prerogatives and functions linked to his quality as IOC Member and Chair of the Olympic Solidarity Commission (see annex, letter 18 November 2018).
“To take note of the decision by Sheikh Ahmad Al-Fahad Al-Sabah to temporarily suspend himself from his role and responsibilities within the Association of National Olympic Committees (ANOC). This decision will become effective on 28 November 2018 in the morning after the needed procedural matters related to the 2018 ANOC General Assembly in Tokyo/Japan (see annex, letter 26 November 2018)”, the IOC said in a statement,
The IOC EB emphasises that the presumption of innocence prevails and recognises that Sheikh Ahmad Al-Fahad Al-Sabah has taken the correct course of action with regard to the Olympic Movement.
The IOC Ethics Commission took note of a judicial authority
which considers Al-Sabah to have violated a criminal law which constitutes a very serious damage to the Olympic
Movement and the IOC’s reputation.
“This damage is proportionate to the importance of his
various responsibilities in the Olympic Movement: the higher the responsibilities the higher
the impact on the reputation”, the IOC said, adding that the wrong done and that the fact that the crime is punishable by prison terms of 2 to 5 years makes the crime very serious.
