Live, ITTF elections: insane attacks by Al-Mohannadi supporters on the ITTF integrity officer

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, after my newsletter was published. 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 …

“Due to bribery”: die fragwürdige Vita des ITTF-Vize Khalil Al-Mohannadi

Werden in Doha fünfstellige Dollarsummen für Stimmen auf dem Wahlkongress der International Table Tennis Federation (ITTF) geboten? Whistleblower sollen die Integrity Unit der ITTF informiert haben. Im Auftrag der Nominierungskommission läuft offenbar eine Vorermittlung. Gewählt wird am Dienstag.

SPORT & POLITICSJens Weinreich

“Due to bribery”: the questionable background of ITTF presidential candidate Khalil Al-Mohannadi

Are five-figure sums and value-in-kind promises being offered for votes at the International Table Tennis Federation (ITTF) election congress in Doha? Whistleblowers are said to have informed ITTF’s Integrity Unit. A preliminary investigation is apparently underway. Elections take place on Tuesday.

THE INQUISITORJens 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 I had embellished this newsletter with numerous previously unpublished passages from a 2006 ruling by the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS).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.

I reported last week on the dubious arrest of Swiss official Georg Silberschmidt:

Table tennis elections: when the handcuffs click

Presidents of the ITTF and IWF are being elected in Doha and Riyadh these days. In Qatar, president Petra Sörling, an IOC member, must hold her own against host Khalil Al-Mohannadi. An official who once caused difficulties for the Qatari had been arrested and threatened with several years in prison.

THE INQUISITORJens Weinreich

Over the weekend, the New York Times published this article by Hannah Beech on the subject: