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 Some 15 Olympic federations have already withdrawn their membership
from the umbrella organization, representing about 100 Olympic and
non-Olympic sports bodies, after President Marius Vizer's criticism
of the IOC last month.
"The FEI, alongside many other international sports
federations...will seek full clarity regarding SportAccord’s role
and mission, including a review of SportAccord’s governance and
management,” FEI President Ingmar De Vos said in a statement on
Thursday.
Vizer told Reuters in an interview on Wednesday he had proposed a
meeting with IOC President Thomas Bach to clear the air and said the
withdrawals were the result of pressure from the IOC on the
federations.
"I had expected more solidarity from international federations,
specifically from summer Olympics federations, because I spoke out
in the favor of the sport," Vizer said.
"I did not attack Bach or the IOC. But it is up to the federations
to decide what they consider the best for their situation and their
sports community."
Bach, however, said in a written response seen by Reuters that he
would first have to consult his executive board as well as other
stakeholders before committing to such a meeting. The executive
board next meets in Lausanne in June.
But time is of the essence for Vizer as the membership suspensions
mount and pressure on the international judo president grows
exponentially.
On Wednesday, the international rowing federation as well as modern
pentathlon and volleyball pulled out.
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Since Vizer's scathing attack on the IOC, where he claimed the
Olympic body was dated, not transparent enough and blocking new
initiatives, a string of federations have pulled out.
These already include athletics, boxing, archery, triathlon,
taekwondo, wrestling, shooting, canoeing, hockey, bobsleigh and
weightlifting.
Several sports have also pulled out of the 2017 World Combat Games
organized by SportAccord, leaving the event with just two of the
initial six Olympic sports along with 10 other non-Olympic sports.
(Reporting by Karolos Grohmann; Editing by Julian Linden)
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