Second IOC member resigns
Son of Libyan member got college scholarship in Utah
Posted: Tuesday January 26, 1999 01:04 PM
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Samaranch: "I accepted his resignation and I thanked him for his 22 years as a member of the IOC, what he did for sport in his country and for us." AP |
LAUSANNE, Switzerland (AP) -- The IOC delegate from Libya resigned Friday, the second member of the international body to step down rather than face possible expulsion in the Salt Lake City bribery scandal.
IOC president Juan Antonio Samaranch told The Associated Press that Bashir Mohamed Attarabulsi submitted his resignation in person Friday morning, one day before a special IOC commission concludes its inquiry into the Olympics' biggest corruption scandal.
Samaranch said Attarabulsi, 61, an IOC member since 1977, stepped down because of revelations that his son had received college scholarships at Utah schools from Salt Lake City boosters.
"I accepted his resignation and I thanked him for his 22 years as a member of the IOC, what he did for sport in his country and for us," Samaranch said in a telephone interview. "He's a good man. He did [make] a mistake."
Attarabulsi's son, Suhel, has said he received tuition at BYU and other Utah schools, plus $700 a month for expenses. BYU records show that Suhel Attarabulsi attended an English language lab from the summer of 1995 until April of 1996, but the school said he never enrolled at the university as a student.
Finland's Pirjo Haeggman became the first IOC casualty of the scandal when she resigned Tuesday. She was implicated because her former husband got jobs through Olympic bidding committees from Salt Lake City and Toronto.
IOC director general Francois Carrard said both Attarabulsi and Haeggman resigned "in the higher interest of the Olympic movement."
"Mr. Attarabulsi didn't follow the rules and he took himself the decision to draw the consequences," he said. "I imagine how painful this decision must have been for him, just as painful as it was for Pirjo Haeggman to do the same."
Samaranch said he didn't rule out further resignations this weekend.
He said 13 members were implicated in the IOC's investigation into cash payments, college scholarships, free medical treatment, lavish gifts and other inducements related to Salt Lake's winning bid for the 2002 Winter Games.
With two resignations now in hand, Samaranch said seven other IOC members face possible expulsion from the committee unless they step down.
Samaranch said he did not know what, if any, action would be taken against four other members cited for minor violations.
"Tomorrow, the ad-hoc (investigative) commission is meeting and will listen to many of the members implicated in the case," Samaranch said. "Not all are coming. The day after, the commission will present a final report to the executive board and we will take decisions."
The six-member inquiry panel, headed by IOC vice president Dick Pound, has found that the payments and gifts to members from Salt Lake City boosters totaled almost $800,000, with some members receiving more than $100,000 each.
Carard said Pound's report has not yet been completed. He said the commission will begin meeting late Friday and then reconvene for most of Saturday.
Attarabulsi resigned beccause his son was given free education at several Utah universities |
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Some of the implicated members are expected to defend themselves in person before Pound's commission Saturday. On Sunday, the IOC executive board will recommend expulsions of members and propose ways of overhauling the entire Olympic bidding and selection process.
Samaranch has called a special IOC assembly for March 17-18 to vote on expulsions and ratify the new site-selection procedures.
Members who choose not to resign will be suspended pending a vote of expulsion by the full assembly, where a two-thirds majority vote is required.
"We can not expel the members," Samaranch said. "We can only propose this. The session must take the final decision."
Olympic officials and press reports have identified the other members accused of serious violations meriting possible expulsion as: Agustin Arroyo (Ecuador), Zein El Abdin Ahmed Abdel Gafir (Sudan), Jean-Claude Ganga (Republic of Congo), Laime Keita (Mali), Charles Mukora (Kenya), Sergio Santander (Chile) and David Sibandze (Swaziland).
The four members cited for lesser infractions have been identified as Anton Geesink (Netherlands), Louis Guirandou-N'Diaye (Ivory Coast), Kim Un-Yong (South Korea) and Vitaly Smirnov (Russia).
In the interview, Samaranch confirmed the IOC was ready to investigate any documented allegations of corruption during other Olympic bid campaigns. Since the Salt Lake City scandal broke last month, reports of vote-buying and other misconduct have emerged from several other cities.
"We have on the table some facts regarding some other cities and will investigate," Samaranch said. "The Pound commission is only for Salt Lake City, but we can appoint another commission with the same powers, maybe with the same people. But we have to act on facts and not rumors."
Added Carrard: "We are investigating every evidence which we are receiving."
Samaranch said his priority is to restore "the prestige" of the IOC.
"What we lost during these weeks, we have to get back," he said. "We have to work hard. Myself, I will do my best."
Samaranch, who has been president since 1980, retired he has no intention of resigning, despite calls from outside the IOC for him to step down to take responsibility for misconduct that took place under his leadership.
"In this moment, I have to be at the head of the International Olympic Committee more than ever," Samaranch said. "I have to try to help to solve these problems."
Carrard said the IOC needs Samaranch to stay on.
"He has accomplished great things for the Olympic movement," he said. "This is a difficult situation and he is determined, with the support of the executive board and the entire membership, to solve this matter and bring this crisis to an end."
Copyright 2003 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
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