According to Slovenia sources the head of the Slovenian ski federation has resigned after alleged incidents at the FIS Congress. Thomaz Lovse reportedly threatened FIS officials, including president Gian-Franco Kasper as the bid to host the Nordic World Championships was award to Lahti, Finland instead of Plancia, Slovenia.

Lovse allegedly told Slovene website Planet Siol.net that votes promised Plancia did not materialize and said the candidacy spent more than 200,000 euros in the failed effort.

Janez Kocijancic, president of the Slovene Olympic Committee is quoted: “We find ourselves in an extremely difficult situation. ... There was no pre-existing agreement to win Lahti, Finland and the scene was, in my view, inappropriate.

Kasper reported an offer of payment and Kocijancic said, “there were also a number of other offers and undignified events seen by my colleagues. ... In my long career I have not seen anything like it.”

Lovse categorically denies the charges calling threats to Kasper “a complete fabrication.” He contends, according to reports, that Kocijancic had assured the candidacy of Plancia had a good chance of being successful and that Kocijancic had been responsible for lobbying for Plancia. “I was disappointed. ... All other references to my alleged misbehavior are a complete lie,” Lovse said.

Lovse said his decision to resign was for “the benefit of Slovenia sport,” adding he made the decision “When I saw that Kocijancic for survival in the Bureau of FIS (was) ready to sacrifice everything.”

Lovse photo by Gepa