Ethics Commission

Guardian of the ethical principles

The IOC was the first sports organisation to set up an independent Ethics Commission in 1999 in order to safeguard the ethical principles of the Olympic Movement. These principles are set out in the Code of Ethics and its Implementing Provisions.

The Ethics Commission establishes the Code of Ethics and, in the event of a violation of the ethical principles, analyses complaints and proposes sanctions.

This independent Commission is made up of nine members. The Chair and the majority of the members are not IOC Members, Honorary Members or former IOC Members. The Chair and members of the Ethics Commission are elected by the IOC Session, for a renewable term of four years.

The Commission’s Role and Activities

The Ethics Commission has three functions:

First, it draws up and continuously updates a framework of ethical principles, including the Code of Ethics, as well as specific Implementing Provisions based on the values and principles enshrined in the Olympic Charter.

Second, it looks into complaints raised in relation to the non-respect of the Code of Ethics and, where necessary, proposes sanctions to the IOC Executive Board and/or the IOC Session. These recommendations remain confidential until the IOC Executive Board makes a decision. All decisions taken are published here.

Third, it delivers advice to the IOC on the implementation of the ethical principles.

The Commission is located in the Villa du Centenaire, in Lausanne. It meets at least twice a year, and more frequently if the urgency of the files demands it.

The Ethics and Compliance Office

The Ethics and Compliance Office was created in 2015 in line with one of the Olympic Agenda 2020 recommendations.

Its mission is primarily preventive, providing information and education on the ethical principles, but also advisory, serving the entire Olympic Movement, in order to help achieve better application of the ethical principles and rules across various levels. In all cases, this advice remains confidential.

In addition, the Ethics and Compliance Office analyses all complaints, denunciations and acts brought to its attention and which may constitute a breach of the ethical principles of the Olympic Charter, the IOC Code of Ethics or its Implementing Provisions. If any failure to comply with the ethical principles is suspected, the Chief Ethics and Compliance Officer performs an initial compliance analysis. Where the suspicion seems founded and the Ethics Commission has jurisdiction, such cases are then referred to the Ethics Commission. The Chief Ethics and Compliance Officer then conducts the investigation to allow the Ethics Commission to carry out its task of analysis.

Twice a year, the IOC Chief Ethics and Compliance Officer reports to the Ethics Commission about all the events which were not referred initially to the Ethics Commission – be it due to a lack of evidence or because the events were out of the scope of application of the IOC Code of Ethics. The Ethics Commission may have a different view and request an investigation of a certain event. The Rules of Procedure (published in the “Ethics” publication) ensure the transparency of the procedure and the right to due process of the people concerned.

To whom do the Code of Ethics and Implementing Provisions apply?

The Code of Ethics and all the Implementing Provisions must be respected by the various stakeholders of the Olympic Movement under the circumstances defined in the Preamble to the Code of Ethics. The IOC Members, the IOC administration and the National Olympic Committees (NOCs) must respect the Code and its Implementing Provisions at all times and in all circumstances.

Who are the Olympic Movement stakeholders?

• the IOC, its Members and administration;
• the National Olympic Committees (NOCs);
• the cities that wish to organise the Olympic Games and the Youth Olympic Games;
• the Organising Committees for the Olympic Games and the Youth Olympic Games;
• all those taking part in the Olympic Games and the Youth Olympic Games, in particular the athletes and their entourage, the NOC and International Sports Federation (IF) delegations, the referees, the judges, etc.
• the Olympic and non-Olympic IFs;
• and all the organisations recognised by the IOC.

Who can refer a case and how?

All complaints, denunciations and acts which might constitute a breach of the ethical principles will be analysed with a view to a possible referral to the Ethics Commission. To this end, anyone can give information concerning suspected non-compliance to the Ethics and Compliance Office. The Integrity and Compliance Hotline can be used to facilitate this consultation with full confidentiality guaranteed.

Ethics Commission, recommendation body.

When a case is referred to it, the Ethics Commission produces recommendations for measures or sanctions that are submitted to the IOC Executive Board, which is taking the decision on the basis of these recommendations.

Procedure

• All the facts, complaints or denunciations are analysed by the IOC Chief Ethics and Compliance Officer, under the control of the IOC Ethics Commission.
• The IOC Chief Ethics and Compliance Officer refers a case to the IOC Ethics Commission when the latter has jurisdiction and when there is a suspicion of non-compliance with the IOC Code of Ethics or one of the Code’s Implementing Provisions.
• A confidential investigation is undertaken. The right to due process of the person concerned is respected.
• The investigation outcomes are written down in a report presented to the members of the IOC Ethics Commission. After deliberation, a decision is adopted in the form of conclusions and recommendations.
• These conclusions and recommendations are delivered to the IOC Executive Board, through the IOC President, and remain confidential until the IOC Executive Board has reached a decision.
• The sanction decision is made by the IOC Executive Board; in the most serious cases, the final decision is made by the Session, in accordance with the Olympic Charter.
• The decision is published.

The conclusions and recommendations of the IOC Ethics Commission published hereafter were approved.

Concerning IOC Members

Decision dated 22.11.2018
Sheikh Ahmad Al-Fahad Al-Sabah – On 26 November 2018, the IOC Executive Board took note of the decision of Sheikh Ahmad Al-Fahad Al-Sabah to temporarily suspend himself and approved the recommendations of the IOC Ethics Commission.

Decision dated 7.11.2017
Mr. Frank Fredericks – the IOC Executive Board approved the recommendation by the IOC Ethics Commission to suspend Mr. Frank Fredericks from all his rights as IOC Member; this decision replaced the recommendation dated 7 March 2017 to partially suspend Mr. Frank Fredericks.

Decision dated 5.10.2017
Mr. Carlos Nuzman – the IOC Executive Board approved the recommendation by the IOC Ethics Commission to suspend Mr. Carlos Nuzman from all his rights as IOC Member.

Decision dated 3.10.2016
Mr. Patrick Hickey – the IOC Executive Board approved the recommendation by the IOC Ethics Commission and considered the measure already implemented by decision of Mr. Patrick Hickey himself.

Decision dated 21.06.2016
Mr. Dae-Sung Moon - On 20 July 2016, the IOC Executive Board approved the recommendations by the IOC Ethics Commission to suspend Mr. Dae-Sung Moon from all his functions as IOC Member.

Decision dated 9.11.2015
Mr. Lamine Diack – on 9 November 2015, the IOC Executive Board approved the recommendations by the IOC Ethics Commission to suspend Mr. Lamine Diack from all his functions as IOC Member. Later on the same day, Mr. Lamine Diack resigned as IOC Member.

Decision dated 07.06.2015
Mr. Pál Schmitt - decision by the IOC Executive Board to allow the IOC President to again appoint him to participate in an IOC Commission.

Decision n°02/13 dated 29.11.2013
Mr. Dae-sung Moon - Decision by the IOC Executive Board, Lausanne, 10.12.13 to approve the IOC Ethics Commission conclusions and recommendations.

Decision n°01/13 dated 23.05.2013
Mr Pál Schmitt – Decision by the IOC Executive Board, 30.05.2013
“After carefully considering the facts and recommendations of the IOC Ethics Commission, the IOC Executive Board today took a decision on IOC member Pál Schmitt.
Considering Mr Schmitt’s self-suspension for a year, his previous extraordinary service to sport and the Olympic Movement, his resignation as head of state of Hungary, and his voluntary and permanent suspension from membership on any IOC Commission, the Executive Board decided to issue a warning to Pál Schmitt.”

Decision n°02/11 dated 03.10.2011
Mr Issa Hayatou - Decision by the IOC Executive Board, Lausanne, 08.12.11 to approve the IOC Ethics Commission conclusions and recommendations.

Decision n°01/11 dated 03.10.2011
Mr Lamine Diack - Decision by the IOC Executive Board, Lausanne, 08.12.11 to approve the IOC Ethics Commission conclusions and recommendations.

Decision n°02/10 dated 20.04.2010
Mr René Fasel - Decision by the IOC Executive Board, Dubai, 28.04.10, to approve the IOC Ethics Commission conclusions and recommendations.

Decision n°01/10 dated 25.01.2010
Mr Kun-hee Lee - Decision by the IOC Executive Board, Vancouver, 07.02.10, to approve the IOC Ethics Commission conclusions and recommendations.

Decision n°04/08 dated 17.11.2008
Mr Kun-hee Lee - Provisional measure.

Decision n°03/08 dated 18.07.2008
Mr Kun-hee Lee - Provisional measure.

Decision n°01/08 dated 21.01.2008
Mr Floyd Landis v/ Mr Richard Pound, IOC Member. Decision by the IOC Executive Board, Athenes, 05.06.08, to approve the IOC Ethics Commission conclusion and recommendation.

Decision n°03/07 dated 30.10.2007
Mr Henri Sérandour - Decision by the IOC Executive Board, Lausanne, 12.12.07, to approve the IOC Ethics Commission conclusion and recommendation. [Reprimand and suspension of the right to sit on any IOC commission for five years].

Decision n°02/07 dated 20.03.2007
Mr Yong Sung Park – Decision by the IOC Executive Board, Pékin, 26.04.07, to approve the IOC Ethics Commission conclusion and recommendation. [Reprimand and suspension of the right to sit on any IOC commission for five years].

Decision n°04/06 dated 15.12.2006
Mr Franco Carraro - [Decision of no recommendation to the IOC Executive Board].

Decision n°03/06 dated 05.09.2006
Mr Yong Sung Park - [Recommendation to maintain the provisional measure adopted on 11.02.06].

Decision n°02/06 dated 15.06.2006
Mr Guy Drut - Decision by the IOC Executive Board, Lausanne, 23.06.06, to approve the IOC Ethics Commission conclusion and recommendation [Reprimand and suspension of the right to chair any IOC commission for five years].

Decision n°01/06 dated 11.02.2006
Mr Yong Sung Park - [Provisional deprivation of all rights, prerogatives and functions deriving from the membership of the IOC, following criminal proceedings].

Decision n°07/05 dated 25.11.2005
Mr Yong Sung Park - [Defer making a recommendation decision].

Decision n°06/05 dated 29.11.2005
Mr Guy Drut - [Provisional deprivation of all rights, prerogatives and functions deriving from the membership of the IOC, following criminal proceedings].

Decision n°02/05 dated 11.04.2005
Mr Yoshiaki Tsutsumi - [Provisional deprivation of all rights, prerogatives and functions deriving from his honour membership of the IOC, following criminal proceedings] – Decision by Mr Yoshiaki Tsutsumi, 25.04.05, to resign his honour membership of the IOC.

Decision n°01/05 dated 04.02.2005
Mr Un Yong Kim - Decision by Mr Un Yong Kim, 20.05.05, to resign his IOC membership.

Decision n°05/04 dated 25.10.2004
Mr Ivan Slavkov - Decision by the 117th IOC Session, Singapore, 07.07.05, to expel Mr Ivan Slavkov from the IOC.

Decision n°03/04 dated 06.08.2004
Mr Ivan Slavkov - Decision by the IOC Executive Board, Athens, 07.08.04, to provisionally suspend Mr Ivan Slavkov from the IOC.

Decision n°01/04 dated 22.01.2004
Mr Un Yong Kim - [Provisional deprivation of all rights, prerogatives and functions deriving from the membership of the IOC, following criminal proceedings].

Decision n°01/02 dated 07.05.2002
Mr Mohamad (Bob) Hasan - Decision by the 116th IOC Session, Athens, 10.08.04, to expel Mr Mohamad (Bob) Hasan from the IOC.

Concerning NOCs or Members of NOCs

Decision dated 29.03.2016
President and Secretary General of the NOC of Antigua and Barbuda –ticketing issue for the Olympic Games Rio de Janeiro2016. Recommendations by the IOC Ethics Commission approved by the IOC Executive Board on 20 July 2016.

Decision n°03/12 dated 11.07.2012
Sunday Times – Illegal Sale of tickets for the Olympic Games

Decision n°04/04 dated 07.08.2004
FIFA / Mr Farah Addo - [Provisional deprivation of all rights, prerogatives and functions deriving from the membership of the IOC, for having seriously tarnished the reputation of the Olympic Movement].

Decision n°01/03 dated 28.04.2003
Indict / Iraqi NOC - [suspension of a NOC following extremely serious facts].

Concerning IFs

Decision n°01/12 dated 04.04.2012
BBC Newsnight / AIBA - Decision by the IOC Executive Board, Quebec, 24.05.12, to approve the IOC Ethics Commission conclusions and recommendations.

Decision n°02/08 dated 15.02.2008
Mr Nat Indrapana, IOC member and Vice-President of the World Taekwondo Federation v/Mr Jin-suk Yang, Secretary General of the World Taekwondo Federation.

Decision n°07/03 dated 21.10.2003
Mr Goijman / FIVB - [Reminder of the principle: the money from sport must go to sport].

Decision n°03/03 dated 21.10.2003
ODEPA / FIVB - [The right to sport and the right to the practise of sport must be applied without discrimination].

Concerning the Olympic Games

Decision n°04/12 dated 26.11.2012
Mr Peter O’Leary - Decision by the IOC Executive Board, Lausanne, 05.12.12 to approve the IOC Ethics Commission conclusions and recommendations

Concerning a third party

Decision n°04/07 dated 07.12.2007
Mr John Krimsky - [Resignation from all his functions within the IOC Olympic Philately, Numismatics and Memorabilia Commission].

Decision dated 16.02.2006
Mr Pat Beldotti, Turin 2006 Olympic Games Ethiopian NOC Chef de Mission - [Expulsion from the Olympic Games in Turin and exclusion from all future Olympic Games; withdrawal of his accreditation with immediate effect] – C.A.S. decision dated 07.11.06, to limit the expulsion to 2008 and 2010 Olympic Games.

Decision n°03/04 dated 06.08.2004
BBC One Panorama - [Withdrawal of their accreditations for four «agents» (Messrs Goran Takac, Gabor Komyathy, Mahmood El Farnawani and Muttaleb Ahmad) during the Games of the XXVIII. Olympiad for facts having seriously tarnished the reputation of the Olympic Movement]. On 7 August 2004, the IOC Executive Board moreover declared these “agents” personae non gratae within the Olympic Movement and recommended to all the members of the Olymic family not to provide them with accreditations nor to deal with them.