Former U.S. Olympic Committee president Robert Helmick, accused of unethical business practices, resigned today from the International Olympic Committee.
Helmick submitted his resignation in a letter to IOC president Juan Antonio Samaranch just hours before the IOC Executive Board met to decide whether he should be ousted."After much thought and reflection, I have determined that I desire to take the initiative to resign my position as a member of the International Olympic Committee," said the letter.
"I am taking this action because I believe it is the decent thing to do and because it serves the best interest of the IOC and the United States Olympic movement by returning the focus to the programs for athletes," Helmick said in the letter.
Helmick had been a member of the IOC, a lifetime position, since 1985. He had also been on the powerful IOC executive board since 1989.
He is believed to be the first IOC executive board member to resign under pressure.
Helmick, who has always denied any wrongdoing, reiterated that stance in his letter.
"I want to strongly reassert my belief that I have done nothing ever of harm to the Olympic movement and appreciate the support of so many of my colleagues here. I regret the situation that has arisen as a result of how my actions have been interpreted by others."
Helmick noted that he had spent 30 years as part of the Olympic movement, first as an athlete and then for the past 22 years as a member of the UOSC and the IOC.
"There is nothing that I have done during this entire time to compromise the good work that is being done under the Olympic banner," he wrote.
Helmick left Lausanne in the early morning to fly back to the United States.
IOC officials said Helmick had informed them late Tuesday of his decision to step down.
At that time, a special three-man panel halted its investigation into Helmick's business dealings relating to possible conflicts of interest.
The head of the commission, IOC vice president Keba Mbaye, said it would be unfair to disclose the panel's findings or what recommendations it planned to make - although he acknowledged that dismissal was one of the options.
Kevan Gosper, another IOC vice president, said Helmick's resignation was the best solution.
"It was the elegant outcome for a very complex and difficult event, both for us and Bob Helmick," he said. "What it did avoid was a debate on the matter."
Gosper said as a result of the Helmick case, the IOC would seek to clarify its rules regarding conflict of interest and disclosure.
"Up until now we thought the rules covered the matter, but members need to have a clearer understanding," he said.Among those notified of Helmick's decision were William J. Hybl, his successor as USOC president, and USOC executive director Harvey Schiller. Both are in Lausanne.
Hybl praised Helmick for "the positive impact" he had on the U.S. Olympic movement over three decades.
"He added a great deal in terms of management of the USOC, structure and support of the athletes," Hybl said.
Helmick's replacement will be determined by the IOC in collaboration with the USOC.
By virtue of his IOC membership, Helmick had retained his posts on the USOC executive committee and on the board of the organizing committee for the 1996 Summer Games in Atlanta.
His resignation from the IOC means that he automatically relinquishes those U.S. posts, although he will retain his vote on the USOC board of directors as a past president.
"We're sorry this happened," said Billy Payne, head of the Atlanta organizing committee. "We always admired his long service. But we respect the decision he's made."
Helmick met Monday and Tuesday with the three-man IOC panel investigating his business dealings for possible conflicts of interest.
As of late Tuesday, he showed no indication that he was ready to offer his resignation. That left open the posssibility that the 12-member executive board would ask him to resign or expel him.