(ATR)Within the past 48 hours, six Olympic federations have suspended theirmembership of SportAccord.
The International Fencing Federation (FIE) suspended its membership of SportAccord on May 22.
Overall some 20 Olympic federationshavesuspended or withdrawn their membership of the umbrella organization.
Federations have been severing ties with SportAccord since Marius Vizer criticized the IOC and Agenda 2020 in his opening address at the SportAccord Convention & World Business Summit on Apr. 20 in Sochi.
In a letter sent to Marius Vizer, FIE president Alisher Usmanov criticizes the SportAccord chief's attack on the IOC and president Thomas Bach.
A statement released by the FIE on Friday said that Usmanov's letter accuses Vizer of harming international federations, with no regard for their for their interests.
Usmanov, according the FIE's statement,said that the federation would consider rejoining SportAccord only if the organization opens a "constructive dialogue" with the IOC and issues a formal apology to Bach.
"In line with the principles of the Olympic movement, which are based on honesty and transparency, I believe that Mr. Vizer should re-assess his relations with the IOC and the international sporting federations and determine the principles for future cooperation," Usmanov said.
"I would be happy to assist in any way possible to resolve these fundamental disagreements and establish constructive dialogue."
Fifteen Olympic federations, summer and winter, have yet to suspend or withdraw their membership of SportAccord including aquatics, badminton, cycling, gymnastics, and judo.
A day after Bach reiterated a request to meet with Vizer, the SportAccord chief issued his"Sport Reform Agenda,"containing a list of 20 demands for his meeting with the IOC president.
Francesco Ricci Bitti, president of the Association of Summer Olympic International Federations, issued a scathing letter to Vizer on Friday in response to the SportAccord president's manifesto.
In a copy of the letter obtained byAround the Rings, Ricci Bitti dismisses Vizer's demands and calls on the SportAccord chief to stop speaking on behalf of other International Federations.
Written byNicole Bennett
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