Jose Vicbart Geraldino, who recently got the Dominican Olympic Committee to overrule a ban imposed on him by Judo Federation president Jaime Casanova, reports that James Macleod, the program manager of the International Olympic Committee’s Olympic solidarity program, will visit to discuss the case of Vicbart and Casanova, as reported in Hoy newspaper. The solidarity program provides financial support and training resources to nations in need, is supported by international company sponsorship funds. Macleod said he would meet first with Vicbart in Athens to discuss the documents the judo athlete sent regarding corruption in the Federation of Judo?s handling of the program in the DR. Vicbart presented recent proof that Casanova had been reimbursed twice for the same claim.
Last week, Casanova allegedly resigned from his post at the federation, but the Dominican Olympic Committee said they have not received any official notification of such. His resignation would also have to be accepted by the judo associations that in the past have shown loyalty to Casanova.
Continuing with the case, the International Olympic Committee representative in the Dominican Republic, Roque (Polon) Munoz, confirmed to Hoy newspaper the presence of corruption in sports and urged the state to carry out audits on institutions that receive government funds for sports activities. ?I only speak the truth and I can assure you that corruption is eating away at every level of the country, including sport?? Munoz claimed to have information that supports the notion of widespread corruption in local sports. Hoy reported on Thursday that, in addition to the case of Jaime Casanova, there have been several cases of federation directors who buy the votes of sports association directors, as well as federation directors who sell travel visas to non-athletes for RD$50,000 to RD$60,000.
Munoz expressed his confidence that the new president of the Dominican Olympic Committee would take action in the right direction.
He also emphasized that the funds of the solidarity program need to be handled transparently.
The Dominican Olympic Committee issued a statement whereby they say the federations receiving governmental funds are already audited.