Fed: IOC chief backs Gosper over Salt Lake scandal

AAP General News (Australia)
02-02-2000
Fed: IOC chief backs Gosper over Salt Lake scandal

International Olympic Committee chief JUAN ANTONIO SAMARANCH has given strong support
to Australian member KEVAN GOSPER over charges he took improper gifts from organisers
of the Salt Lake City Winter Olympics.

Mr SAMARANCH had been interviewed yesterday by the US's federal crime agency, the FBI,
over the Salt Lake bid for the games.

IOC spokesman FRANKLIN SERVAN-SCHRIBER told ABC radio that SMARANCH is very strongly
behind Mr GOSPER and supports him very strongly in this difficult time.

He says he thinks Mr SAMARANCH believes Mr GOSPER did the right thing by asking the
ethics commission to review the situation.

The IOC has detailed conditions under which its ethics commission will deliberate issues
relating to Mr GOSPER and the Salt Lake City bid to host the 2002 Winter Games.

The statement by the IOC has comes as Mr GOSPER insisted he won't make public receipts
he says he has relating to trips to Salt Lake by himself and his wife in 1993 and 1995.

Deliberations on the issue will be held on March 6 in Lausanne.

AAP RTV lm/mfh/as/jn

KEYWORD: OLY GOSPER (CANBERRA)

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