When the International Ski Federation (Fis) on Friday night communicated the news that 55-year-old Lewis had been fired, they had a wording about "total lack of confidence" in the press release.

No reason was given and on Monday evening they removed that sentence from their website.

Now SVT Sport can tell why the board voted out the British Secretary General who has been in office since 2000.

Clear majority

In June next year, the Swiss Gian-Franco Kasper will resign after 23 years as chairman of the International Ski Federation.

According to sources to SVT Sport, Lewis wants to succeed Kasper as chairman and the reason for her dismissal was that she has used time and resources for her candidacy for over a year, at the same time as she has been general secretary.

From the Fis board's side, it is seen as inappropriate and unfair to other candidates.

The candidates already nominated are the Swiss Urs Lehmann and the Swedish billionaire Johan Eliasch, who has been nominated by the United Kingdom.

Mats Årjes, vice chairman of Fis and chairman of the Swedish Olympic Committee, has also expressed his interest in the presidency.

The current chairman Kasper and Lewis have worked side by side for about 20 years, but recently their relationship has deteriorated.

When Lewis was voted out, the votes fell 15-1 in favor of the removal.

According to SVT Sports sources, Lewis has not yet given up on becoming chairman of Fis.

Årjes: "There are good reasons"

SVT Sport has been in contact with Mats Årjes who, like other board members, refuses to comment.

- I can not really say anything.

None of the members of the board should or can say anything.

It's like any other board.

It is a personnel matter that must be handled by the employer, ie Fis, he says and continues:

- There are good grounds and good reasons to terminate the contract.

Then everything goes on in normal bottling again.

What were the good foundations?

- I want, can or may not comment on that.

SVT Sport has also been in contact with Fis, who says that no one there gives interviews regarding Lewis.

Lewis himself has declined to comment before a legal process is completed.