LONDON: Dutchman Camiel Eurlings has resigned as his country’s representative on the International Olympic Committee (IOC) following allegations of domestic violence in 2015.
In a statement on Friday, the IOC said it had accepted Eurlings’ resignation with regret.
“We thank him for his contribution,” the IOC said. “Although we regret his decision, which is a personal one, we respect the step taken in the interests of the IOC, of the Olympic Movement, and of all involved.”
Eurlings, 44 and a former minister for the Christian Democrats, came under fire for the allegations, over which he reached an out-of-court settlement last year with his former girlfriend.
She made a formal complaint of assault to police in December 2015.
Eurlings issued a statement on Friday saying he was standing down “in the interests of sport and sportsmen and women”.
Eurlings, the Dutch IOC representative since 2013, was quoted by local media as saying: “The discussion about whether or not I should stay on is taking attention away from the sport and the athletes. That is why… I am resigning as IOC member, the best volunteer job in the world.”
