Rogge set to assume IOC presidency

Belgian surgeon Jacques Rogge seemed set on Monday to clinch the biggest job in world sport after damaging revelations about his chief rival for presidency of the International Olympic Committee (IOC).

The IOC votes on Monday morning for a successor to Juan Antonio Samaranch who steps down after 21 year as IOC president.

A statement from the IOC's ethics commission on Sunday less than 24 hours before the vote said South Korea's Kim Un-yong had been questioned over a possible rules breach after a letter from an IOC member.

Kim was asked about comments attributed to him in newspapers suggesting he would offer IOC members $50,000 a year for an office and expenses if he became president.

He did not deny the figures but was manifestly upset about the timing of the commission statement.

"Somebody wrote a stupid letter," he told reporters. "They will do anything they can to get one more inch. Don't you think so?"

POUND SETBACK

The other main contender to succeed Samaranch, Canadian lawyer Dick Pound, also received a setback on Sunday.

To Pound's evident surprise, Samaranch described the drugs problem as "a mess" and urged the head of the World Anti-Doping Agency to hold an emergency conference this year.

"This sounds like an invitation for someone else to spend my money," he said. "The first conference was a success and led to the creation of WADA. But if you invited governments and high-ranking ministers it is important to give them enough notice."

The other two candidates for president, former American rower Anita DeFrantz and Hungarian diplomat Pal Schmitt, are outsiders in the race to take over from Samaranch for an eight-year term.

Rogge, 59, is a former world sailing champion who competed at the 1968, 1972 and 1976 Olympics. He also won 10 caps for the Belgian national rugby union team.

His supporters believe he possesses the image and credentials to succeed Samaranch after the damaging Salt Lake City bribery scandal which resulted in 10 members leaving the IOC.

Rogge has refused to get carried away with speculation that he will win the vote.

"I don't rely on feelings, gossips, rumours," he said. "It is a secret vote.

"Yes, I hear good things and it is better than hearing bad things but I don't rely on that."

IOC observers said Kim's support had been slipping over the past few days despite his assiduous cultivation of third world members.

They said there was also a question mark over appointing an Asian as president only three days after awarding Beijing the summer Games for the first time.