DSV and Co. withdraw lawsuit against FIS boss

The German Ski Association (DSV) and three other national associations have withdrawn their lawsuit against the controversial re-election of the Swedish-British businessman Johan Eliasch as President of the International Ski Federation (FIS).

Although the legal opinion has not changed, said DSV board member Stefan Schwarzbach to the SID, the current procedure overrides “the necessary coordination processes.” A round table with all those involved is now planned.

At the election at the FIS Congress in May 2022 in Milan, the delegates only had the option to vote for Eliasch or to abstain – a vote with “No” was not possible. The DSV later described this as a “farce” and, together with colleagues from Austria, Croatia and Switzerland, went to the International Court of Arbitration for Sport CAS.

Eliasch, the billionaire owner of the ski manufacturer Head, had been confirmed in office for four more years with 70 votes in favor – a weak but not unexpected result. The associations were still able to avert the election by show of hands initially planned by Eliasch.

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