Alfons Hörmann, the President of the German Olympic Sports Confederation (DOSB), is to ask the vote of confidence at the general assembly in December.

This is recommended by the association's ethics committee, headed by the former defense and interior minister Thomas de Maizière.

She has investigated allegations against Hörmann, which are made in an anonymous letter from May, which is said to come from the workforce of the association.

Hörmann are accused of behaviors that lack respect and decency and of having established a culture of fear.

Michael Reinsch

Correspondent for sports in Berlin.

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    "In the opinion of the ethics committee, it can in any case not go on in German sport with such a different assessment of the people involved and the structures lived," says the nine-page report and recommendation of the committee, which was published on Monday. Formally, it is addressed to the board and presidium of the DOSB. With this publication, de Maizière practically rules out deviating from his recommendations.

    The DOSB did not answer the question of whether Hörmann would face a new election in December on Monday evening.

    In a press release, the Presidium and Executive Board announced that they would be intensively discussing and deliberating the recommendation in their Monday and Tuesday meetings.

    "Our claim at the DOSB is togetherness based on honesty, transparency and mutual appreciation," says the message: "That is why clarification by the committee responsible in accordance with the statutes was important to us."

    There is a lack of trust and confidence

    The ethics committee writes in the reporting part of its report: “It can also be stated that the relations of the President / Presidium / Board of Directors with parts of the central associations, parts of the state associations, the International Olympic Committee, the Federal Ministry of the Interior and important parts of the media urgently need improvement. Sometimes there is a lack of basic trust here. ”Further:“ An umbrella organization cannot and must not be everyone's 'dear child'. But an overall higher basic acceptance and a better climate between the parties mentioned serves the reputation of the sport and the reputation of its leading representatives. All sides have to work on this. "

    The text states that there is obviously a lack of mutual trust and the necessary trust in the skills of the employees at the DOSB headquarters in Frankfurt. “There is too much self-reflection, demotivation and rumors, dissatisfaction and ambiguity. This is a state of affairs that also has to be related to the leadership behavior of the Presidium and Executive Board. This must also be accused of the presidium and board.

    Until the new election, the deficiencies that have meanwhile been identified by the Presidium and the Executive Board should be remedied or at least addressed. President Hörmann, the presidium and the board of directors could use such a process to attract new trust, writes de Maizière. "On the other hand, possible opposing candidates have enough time to advertise a new beginning with their concept and in whole or in part to other people and to face the trust of the general meeting with an open eye."

    According to the report, CEO Veronika Rücker is preparing a culture change process with the participation of neutral third parties; the tender is running. In addition, a leadership model should be developed. From a confirmation of the accusation that President Hörmann in particular was responsible for a prevailing climate of fear to the exact opposite indication that President Hörmann led the DOSB professionally and in a spirit of appreciation, that it was rather a large-scale intrigue against him all views between these extreme positions have been represented.

    The Hörmann commission acquitted of the accusation that he threw a pen at an employee in a conference. Rather, in order to end whispering during a lecture, he threw the pen with a movement from bottom to top on Arnold's table. The employee burst into tears. Hörmann apologized to the employee the next time he was at the house, three and a half weeks later. The commission confirms that the employee resigned the following day.