Lloyd Ward’s position as chief executive of the U.S. Olympic Committee remained secure Monday after an ethics oversight committee found that he did not violate the USOC’s code of ethics.
The panel had looked into allegations that Ward told USOC staff members to help his brother’s company land a deal to supply power generators to organizers of the 2003 Pan American Games. No deal was ever made. Ward’s brother, Rubert, no longer works for the company, Detroit-based Energy Management Technologies.
Noting that Ward’s conduct “created the appearance of a conflict of interest,” the 10-member ethics committee also concluded that Ward failed to make a written disclosure of potential financial interest of his brother when he filed an annual disclosure statement last July.
The panel’s findings were approved in a resolution “by a very substantial majority, over 80 percent,” by the 22-member USOC executive committee, said USOC vice-president Bill Stapleton, who chaired the meeting.
“I feel the process used today was fair and just, and with regards to the ethics charges against me, I have stated that I have made an error in judgment by not disclosing the situation in written form,” Ward said. “The ethics report did not point to an ethics violation, and I am ready to move forward and serve our athletes and the Olympic movement.”
Surprisingly, the strongest words in the report were reserved for the USOC and its handling of the investigation. The allegations involving Ward were reported this month in the Los Angeles Times, and the ethics committee criticized the USOC for leaking the story.
“This conduct is contrary to the USOC code of ethics and reflects a purposeful disregard of the spirit and purpose of the ethics program and the committee’s charter,” the ethics panel said.
“Theyre looking at us more than theyre looking at Lloyd,” said Michigan athletic director Bill Martin, one of six officers on the USOC executive committee. “That’s the story in my mind. The ethics committee is saying, `You guys dont have your act together, either. ”
As a result, the executive committee announced that its officers will play a bigger role in the organization.
“There is concern that we tend to not operate as a cohesive unit at times,” Stapleton said.
Ward, a former Maytag chief executive officer and captain of the 1969-70 Michigan State basketball team, has been the USOC’s chief executive since his election in the fall of 2001. He attended the emergency session with his wife, Lita.
“The thing about trial by fire is that you either go up in flames or you get tempered and stronger as a result of it,” Ward said. “Let us get stronger and come together from the most recent affairs that weve gone through. The Olympic movement is very special, and it is very resilient.”
