ITTF presidential candidate Khalil Al-Mohannadi and his supporters are going completely crazy in the run-up to the election in Doha. According to reports from several witnesses, Al-Mohannadi shouted at delegates and has almost physically threatened some delegates yesterday evening, right after my newsletter was published and widely distributed. His aides reportedly had difficulty restraining him from further attacks. He accused delegates of providing me with information for my reporting..
I can rightly say: Al-Mohannadi is wrong. He has made wrong claims.
According to reports from several people, delegates have contacted the ITTF's Integrity Unit. New complaints were filed. In yesterday's newsletter, I reported, among other things, that there were apparently preliminary investigations against presidential candidate Khalil Al-Mohannadi.
It is said that individuals have almost barricaded themselves in their hotel rooms in desperation. There is talk of great fear and shock-like states.
As a journalist, I am familiar with such attacks in the Olympic family. Once, after receiving a non-verbal death threat, a clear gesture, I contacted the IOC Ethics Commission.
The situation in Doha is extremely tense, especially after a dubious arrest last week …
Jens Weinreich
Jens Weinreich
In yesterday's article, I also outlined why Al-Mohannadi is unsuitable for the office of president of an Olympic world federation such as the International Table Tennis Federation (ITTF). I had embellished this newsletter with numerous previously unpublished passages from a 2006 ruling by the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS).
Al-Mohannadi's election as vice-president was once annulled – due to bribery, according to the CAS ruling.
