The embattled president of Costa Rica’s Olympic Committee has finally agreed to step down.Jorge Nery Carvajal submitted his letter of resignation late Monday, two months after the majority of Costa Rica’s 47 sports federations voted to kick him out amid allegations he falsified documents and engaged in fraudulent management of the organization.
Nery Carvajal denied those allegations and initially refused to leave his post. His opponents then set up a parallel committee that was never recognized.
But late Monday at an Olympic Committee meeting mediated by four members of the Pan American Sports Organization, Nery Carvajal said it was time to leave.
In comments broadcast nationally on television, Nery Carvajal said he didn’t want the controversy surrounding his post to affect the six Costa Ricans who have qualified for the Beijing Olympics this summer.
“Our athletes haven’t been able to get behind our flag for the Beijing Games, and we can’t allow that,” he said.
His resignation was effective immediately and came 23 years after he first was named president of the Olympic Committee. He said he will continue in his post as vice president of PASO.
Roberto Verdesia was named the committee’s interim president. A new election will be held in September, after the games, to choose Nery Carvajal’s replacement.
