Canadian Olympic Committee President Marcel Aubut resigned Saturday morning after the organization "launched two investigations into allegations of sexual harassment," according to the CP. Aubut announced Wednesday that he would "step away from his duties after a complaint had been filed against him to the COC." Since that original complaint, two other women "have come forward with their own allegations." Aubut, 67, had "been a member of the COC" since '00 and "formally took over the presidency" in April '10. He "previously served" as CEO of the NHL’s Nordiques until the team moved to Colorado in '95. Former Canadian Olympic skier Jean-Luc Brassard said, "What surprised me the most was it seems people knew about this for 40 years, since the time of the Nordiques. If everyone seemed to know why didn’t anyone say anything?” (CP, 10/3). In Montreal, Marian Scott notes Canadian newspaper La Presse reported Friday that the COC "has known" about allegations of sexual harassment involving Aubut since at least '11. But a source said that members of the COC’s BOD "were unaware of allegations against Aubut until this week." Former IOC VP Dick Pound said, “The board itself was never advised." Meanwhile, the COC said that a "separate investigation into other complaints is continuing." A statement "promised to implement measures to combat harassment and promote a healthy and safe work environment." Scott notes the resignation "ends a remarkable career for the flamboyant Aubut," who was a "major booster of a bid to bring professional hockey back to the provincial capital" (MONTREAL GAZETTE, 10/5). In Toronto, Bruce Arthur cites sources as saying that within the COC, it was "known Aubut would hug female staffers longer, and closer, than they were comfortable with." Sources said that he would "kiss sloppily on the cheeks, or ask for kisses on the lips ... and joke that you were a prude if you refused, however lightly" (TORONTO STAR, 10/5).
