The DSV has defended its steps against the election of FIS President Eliasch. The FIS replied that the election went correctly.
“We had the matter legally examined again. Our lawyers, who have dealt with the subject very intensively, have stuck to their initial assessment, according to which the election of the FIS President corresponds neither to the FIS statutes nor to the requirements of Swiss association law “said Stefan Schwarzbach, board member of the German Ski Association, on Monday (06/20/2022).
A “no” was not possible in the vote
Johan Eliasch was re-elected President of the International Ski and Snowboard Federation (FIS) for another four years with 70 votes in favour. 56 of the 126 associations entitled to vote expressed their rejection by abstaining. At the election in Milan, delegates could only vote for Elijah or abstain – a “no” vote was not possible.
According to the announcement on Friday, the DSV and the associations from Austria, Switzerland and Croatia had informed the FIS that they would have the election checked by the International Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS). As a reason they would have given that at that time “Apparently formulated according to democratic principles and correctly submitted or introduced procedural motions were not admitted by the external legal counsel of the FIS”.
He expects a verdict in three months at the earliest, Schwarzbach continues. “You can imagine that it is not a decision that was particularly easy for us. As far as I know, we have not yet needed a verdict from the CAS. We are aware that we will not necessarily ensure peace with it. But we will there is simply no other choice”according to Schwarzbach.
FIS: “Allegations made are unfounded and without substance.”
The FIS announced that one was “optimistic”that the election at Congress in May “was held in strict accordance with the FIS Statutes and Swiss law”according to a statement.
This point of view will “Confirmed by the legal advisors of the FIS”. In addition, the association is of the opinion “that the allegations made are completely unfounded and without substance”.
The DSV and the FIS were recently in conflict over central marketing issues. There were also allegations of a conflict of interest against Eliasch because after his election as FIS President, doubts arose as to whether he had really resigned from his position at ski manufacturer Head.