International Table Tennis Federation president election turmoil continues to ferment. The Qatari Table Tennis Association said it may take legal action to challenge the results of the ITTF presidential election after the Doha World Table Tennis Championships, AFP reported Tuesday. The Qatari table tennis association said it was“Ready to escalate” the matter.
On May 27, local time, at the annual congress of the International Table Tennis Federation (ITTF) in Doha, a new presidential election was held, qatari Table Tennis Association president, International Table Tennis Federation vice-president Mohannadi 102 votes to 104 votes by a narrow margin than the current President Solin. However, when the results were announced, the number of votes showed more than the original announcement of the number of voters. It is reported that the total number of voters than the roll call of 201 more than five people, and all five people from online voting. The final online turnout increased from 16 to 21, with 17 voting for Solin and only four for Mohannadi. This left the defeated Qatari delegate extremely disgruntled and the room filled with questions. The annual congress of the ITTF was suspended and the election of the ITTF executive board was postponed.
After the vote, Solin told a reporter from the Swedish daily news that she felt “Unsafe” and left the convention with help from staff. “Solin’s safety has never been compromised,” said a spokesman for the Qatari Table Tennis Association, while acknowledging that Solin “May have been uncomfortable, as many of us were in the heat of the moment, with unexpected results”.
The ITTF later said it would investigate the riot, which is believed to have been caused by Mohannadi’s supporters, who were“Non-member representatives and uninvited persons”. It said the election had been conducted“In strict accordance with the ITTF constitution and regulations” and“Rejected erroneous statements by some member associations acknowledging any other results”. However, the Qatari Table Tennis Association did not admit defeat. The association“Is actively reviewing all legal and procedural options… We believe there are sufficient grounds to question the effectiveness of the electoral process,” a spokesman said Tuesday.
A spokesman for the Qatari table tennis association said: “We are also consulting legal experts to ensure that this matter is upgraded through appropriate international sports arbitration channels if necessary.” “Until all procedural issues are independently reviewed, the result can not be considered a done deal.”