Australian Olympic Committee Media Dir Mike Tancred has been "cleared of allegations of bullying after an independent investigation," the organization said on Friday, according to Greg Stutchbury of REUTERS. Tancred "stood down from his role in April" after allegations of bullying were made by former AOC CEO Fiona de Jong. An independent committee investigated complaints from three former AOC staff members and a member of the public who had objected to Tancred's conduct. The committee ruled "that none of the complaints has been made out on an objective basis," the AOC said (REUTERS, 9/1). The ABC's Mary Gearin wrote senior figures at the AOC are reportedly "looking carefully" at whether Tancred's breach of their ethical behavior by-law gives the organization "a mechanism to sack him." This "unsavoury saga has dragged out for months," leading to an independent review that found a "dysfunctional culture" within the country's peak Olympic body, and it is believed there is a "push for swift action to find an exit" for Tancred, "and cauterise damage to the AOC's reputation." But Tancred has signaled he is "ready to fight to save his own reputation, and refuses to become a scapegoat." There are reports the board already voted to sack him in its August meeting, and Tancred is reportedly "planning to sue for unfair dismissal." But senior sources said that no such vote was held, and Tancred "still holds his position, suspended on full pay" (ABC, 9/3).
