Ping pong chiefs on warpath
Ugly power struggle casts shadow over governing body's presidential election as accusations fly back and forth between bitter rival candidates
It is the innocent pastime that has made a surprise return to vogue, but a bitter power struggle has plunged table tennis into uncertain times following an angry row and threats of legal action.
With the International Table Tennis Federation's (ITTF) presidential election looming next month, challenger Stefano Bosi is locked in a wrangle with long-time leader Adham Sharara that could end up in the courts.
Last month, sparks flew when Bosi confronted Canada's Sharara with claims of conflicts of interest over his close involvement with companies that have dealt with the Lausanne-based body during his 14-year presidency.
According to a letter from Bosi to executive committee members, obtained by Chinese web portal Tencent, Sharara became "very aggressive" and had "started to threaten people, suggesting everybody was behind a conspiracy".
Sharara's account of the meeting in Frankfurt is very different. Last week, he said Bosi threatened to go public with his claims unless the president resigned, and became "very angry" when he refused.
Italy's Bosi, who is head of the European Table Tennis Union (ETTU), says that Sharara is guilty of "several long-term, serious and persistent infringements of ITTF regulations and ethical principles", and may have broken the law. He also suggests Sharara has breached the Olympic Charter by mixing personal and ITTF interests, and is calling for the International Olympic Committee to impeach the Egyptian-born Canadian.