The Dominican Olympic Committee is immersed in an institutional crisis at a time when preparations are in the final stages for the Dominican team to participate in the Olympic Games scheduled for this summer in Paris, France.
Six members of the 11-member Dominican Olympic Committee (COD) board have resigned. Press reports are not clear on the reasons for the resignation. Sports writer Hugo López Morrobel says what is going on is a power play between two sides. Sports federation members usually control the federations for years, even decades. Many sports presidents have been criticized for turning non-profit organizations into means for their personal profit, while the sports they direct languish and the athletes receive minimal support.
Regardless, the resigning federation directors are calling for new elections. COD statute #43 establishes that if most board members resign, a new election needs to be held.
The resigning COD board members are: Irina Pérez (sailing), José Manuel Ramos (equestrian), Radhamés Tavárez (swimming), Jorge Blas Díaz (cycling), Francis Soto (bowling) and Juan Núñez (baseball). The president of the Volleyball Federation, Alexis García, and the president of the Wrestling Federation, Antonio Acosta, have said the COD should adhere to the rule that calls for the new election to be called.
The president of the Dominican Olympic Committee Garibaldy Bautista says he will have an answer to the situation in 24 to 48 hours, adhering to COD statutes and non-profit organization Law 122-05.
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Dominican Olympic Committee
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Diario Libre
11 January 2024