The Canadian Olympic Committee last night said that President Marcel Aubut "has stepped aside" during an investigation surrounding a sexual harassment complaint against him, according to Leblanc & Gordon of the GLOBE & MAIL. Sources said that the complaint "alleges that the organization ignored past warning signs" about Aubut. Sources added that the complaint was "filed by a staff member who works at the Canadian Olympic Foundation, which is affiliated with the COC and is in the same Toronto building." An anonymous former COC official said that the complaint against Aubut "deals with 'verbal comments' he is alleged to have made." The COC yesterday also announced that it had retained retired judge François Rolland "to investigate." A spokesperson for Aubut said that the probe "should be completed by mid-October." Leblanc & Gordon note Aubut has "raised the profile of the COC -- and put himself front and centre at Canadian Olympic events -- since he was elected president" in '09. However, a former COC staffer said that "clashes have been growing of late" between Aubut and COC CEO Chris Overholt, related to Aubut’s "constant 'presence' in every aspect of the organization’s activities" (GLOBE & MAIL, 10/1). Aubut served as Nordiques CEO until the team was moved to Denver in '95 (TORONTO STAR, 10/1).
