(ATR) IOC vice president John Coates says he is being subject to a "vindictive" campaign in his bid to be re-elected as head of the Australian Olympic Committee.
Field hockey Olympic gold medalist Danni Roche is running against Coates in the May 6 ballot, the first person to challenge his grip on the AOC presidency in 27 years.
Amid allegations of bullying in the AOC, Coates sought to defend himself and the Olympic committee in a letter to its top officials and national federations published by News Corp on Tuesday.
"There is clearly a coordinated and sadly vindictive campaign to damage me personally, and to tarnish all that has been achieved at the AOC," said Coates, a close ally of IOC president Thomas Bach.
"This campaign is as disappointing as it is unfounded."
The AOC has called an emergency meeting on Wednesday to discuss claims of bullying within its ranks made by two officials including former CEO Fiona de Jong.
De Jong, who left the AOC in December, lodged a formal complaint about media and communications director Mike Tancred. She insisted no action had been taken four months on, according to the Australian Associated Press.
The AOC would not disclose Wednesday’s meeting agenda to Around the Rings or say what it was about.
In his letter, Coates labeled the bullying allegations as false and malicious and said "due process has been followed".
He has also hit back at his critics in the Australian media, saying coverage of the election race was "damaging" to the AOC.
1996 Atlanta Olympics hockey gold medallist Roche is campaigning for the AOC presidency on a platform for change.
She wants to repair bridges with the Australian Sports Commission and is pledging to invest more on athletes and sports development.Roche would also not take a salary.
Reported by Mark Bisson
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