Santander protests innocence
Posted: Sunday January 24, 1999 12:43 PM
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Santander says he has been "absolutely absolved" by an ethical commission in his own country AP |
LAUSANNE, Switzerland (AP) -- The IOC member from Chile on Sunday said he was innocent of misconduct allegations and indicated he won't resign.
"I am certain that I didn't act incorrectly at any moment," Sergio Santander Fantini told reporters. "Whatever happens today, I will remain in a calm and secure position, in the belief that in the end the truth will prevail."
Santander, 72, is the president of the Chilean Olympic Committee and has been a member of the IOC since 1992.
Former Salt Lake Olympics chief Tom Welch has said he gave Santander $10,000 to help finance his campaign for mayor of Santiago, Chile.
"I believe perfectly clear situations connected to support I received for a parliamentary campaign a long time ago have been twisted," said Santander, asked why he had been implicated in the Salt Lake scandal.
"Apparently someone put it where they shouldn't have -- so it's totally beyond my control, because I didn't even know about it."
This support, "an insignificant figure as in any parliamentary campaign," was received in 1993 from what he believed were religious representatives in Chile, Santander said.
He added that he had been "absolutely absolved" by an ethical commission in his own country. As far as Salt Lake is concerned, "I have no official knowledge of the problem."
If the IOC commission investigating vote-buying allegations finds against the Chilean member, Santander indicated he would contest the verdict.
"I think this is a first step," he said. "The second step is ... the (IOC) session in March, and in some cases such as mine we will appeal everything necessary."
The inquiry had been carried out in a "relatively cordial atmosphere," Santander added. He said he had spoken briefly with IOC President Juan Antonio Samaranch on Friday but declined to give details of their conversation.
Santander said he hoped the case will "be resolved in a just way in March," when IOC members meet in a special session.
"I think this is just part of a bigger process, and I believe this process is unfortunately going to continue with consequences for the Olympic movement that none of us would have wanted," he said.
"The accusations bring more accusations and the situations are becoming ever more controversial."
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