The CAS dismisses the appeal of KOJI against IOC

Lausanne, May 22, 2013: The Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) has issued its decision in the appeal filed by the Japanese hammer thrower Koji Murofushi and the Japanese Olympic Committee (JOC) against the International Olympic Committee (IOC) concerning the IOC Executive Board’s decision of 11 August 2012 to withdraw Mr Murofushi’s candidacy for the IOC Athletes’ Commission elections.

Mr Murofushi and the JOC filed an appeal at the CAS on 3 September 2012 requesting the annulment of the IOC Executive Board’s decision. The arbitration was conducted by a Panel composed of Prof. Ulrich Haas (Germany), President of the Panel, Mr Jeff. Benz (USA) and Dr Hans Nater (Switzerland). The parties, together with their representatives and witnesses were heard at a hearing held on 10 and 11 April 2013 at the CAS headquarters in Lausanne.

The CAS Panel has issued its decision, without the grounds. The Panel has informed the CAS Secretary General that it will issue its reasoned award in a few days and has indicated that it had unanimously found that the main reason for upholding the decision of the IOC was due to the fact that the JOC did not comply with the applicable rules and regulations. It has also stressed that Mr Murofushi’s reputation and sportsmanship were intact. On 15 March 2013 the CAS dismissed the appeal of another candidate for the IOC Athletes’ Commission, Mr Mu-Yen Chu. —- CAS