IOC member banned from leaving Algeria

ALGIERS. International Olympic Committee member, Mustapha Berraf, has been banned from leaving Algeria following allegations of corruption.

According to Le So i rd’ Algérie newspaper, the public prosecutor at the Bir Mourad Rais court said the decision was taken against Berraf for the“squandering of public funds” during his time as president of the Algerian Olympic Committee.

The order preventing Berraf, also heads t he Association of National Olympic Committees of Africa from leaving his country, is dated March 8.

The public prosecutor said the 66- year- old had been forced to remain in Algeria “after an investigation following suspicions of corruption within the COA”.

Liberian Olympic Committee president, Philipbert Browne, has called for ANOCA to investigate the latest accusations against Berraf.

In a letter to first vice- president Joao Manuel da Costa Alegre Alfonso, and members of the organisation’s executive committee, Browne said a probe should be launched by the umbrella body as the allegations are “troubling to say the least”.

They also “directly impact the smooth administrative running of ANOCA and weigh greatly on the constitutionality of our integrity and credibility as an organisation”, Browne said.

Berraf resigned his position as CO A president earlier this year, but i nsidethegames understands he has continued to represent t he organisation, including during a conference call t he I OC held with African National Olympic Committees in March.

The 66- year- old, who became a member of the IO C last year and is part of the body by virtue of his position as ANOCA president, quit in February after claiming he had become “tired” of the “repeated attacks” against him and his family. Insidethegames. com.