Ethics Commission

The IOC Ethics Commission is charged with defining and updating a framework of ethical principles, including a Code of Ethics, based upon the values and principles enshrined in the Olympic Charter of which the said Code forms an integral part.

In addition, it investigates complaints raised in relation to the non-respect of such ethical principles, including breaches of the Code of Ethics and, if necessary, proposes sanctions to the IOC Executive Board.

The Ethics Commission is independent in its functioning.

Guardian of the ethical principles

The Ethics Commission was created in 1999 by the International Olympic Committee (IOC) in order to safeguard the ethical principles of the Olympic Movement. These principles are set out in the Code of Ethics.

This independent Commission is made up of nine members, of whom the majority are personalities who are not active IOC members, and of whom at least two are not directly linked with sport. The Chair, Vice-Chair and members of the Ethics Commission are elected by the IOC Session, for a renewable term of four years.

The Commission’s Activities

The Ethics Commission has two functions:

It draws up and continuously updates the ethical principles, including in particular the Code of Ethics, as well as specific implementing provisions based on the values and principles enshrined in the Olympic Charter.

It conducts investigations into breaches of ethics submitted to it and, where necessary, makes recommendations for measures or 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 on www.olympic.org.

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, by means of education and information regarding the ethical principles, but also advisory, for the whole Olympic Movement, in order to help achieve better application of the ethical principles and rules. In all cases, this advice remains confidential.

The second mission, if any failure to comply with the ethical principles is suspected, is to perform an initial compliance analysis and, in serious cases where the suspicion seems founded, to refer such cases to the Ethics Commission.

The Rules of Procedure (published in the Code of Ethics) 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 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 IFs;
• and all the sports organisations recognised by the IOC.

Who can refer a case?

The Ethics Commission cannot refer cases to itself, but cases are referred to it by the Chief Ethics and Compliance Officer when there is a suspicion of non-compliance with the Code of Ethics. 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.

Ethics Commission, recommendation body.

When a case is referred to it, the Ethics Commission produces measures or sanctions recommendations that are submitted to the IOC Executive Board.

Procedure

• The IOC Chief Ethics and Compliance Officer refers a case to the Ethics Commission when there are suspicions of non-compliance with the 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 Commission. After deliberation, a decision is adopted in the form of conclusions and recommendations.
• This decision is delivered to the IOC Executive Board, through the IOC President, and remains confidential until the IOC Executive Board has reached a decision.
• The sanction decision is made by the 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 the IOC Members

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 dated 21 June 2016 to suspend M. Dae-Sung Moon from all his functions.

Decision dated 07.06.2015
Mr. Pál Schmitt - Decision by the IOC Executive Board, Lausanne, 7.06.2015 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 the NOCs or Members of NOCs

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 the 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.