Samaranch to act `quickly'

The International Olympic Committee president Juan Antonio Samaranch says the IOC will "act very quickly" against any members found guilty of corrupt practices.

Evidence has been established in the investigation into alleged vote-buying during Salt Lake City's successful bid for the 2002 Winter Games, he said.

The organisers of the Salt Lake bid are alleged to have paid for some IOC delegates to have sex with prostitutes, as well as attempting to bestow on them scholarships for their children and other lavish gifts.

Samaranch added that action will be taken when the findings of the IOC inquiry are presented to the IOC executive board on January 24th.

"If it turns out that behaviour of some IOC members was inappropriate, they will face consequences," he said. After that, Samaranch said, "peace will return to the IOC and we will be united even more than in the past."

Samaranch has already indicated that IOC members found guilty of corruption will be expelled from the exclusive body.

On Friday, the two top officials of the Salt Lake Olympic Committee - Frank Joklik and Dave Johnson - resigned after disclosures of cash payments to IOC members and other misdeeds.

Chilean Olympic Committee president Sergio Santander has refuted allegations that he accepted bribes from members of the Salt Lake City campaigning team.

Santander, who along with Congolese Olympic Committee president Jean-Claude Ganga was named by the Chicago Tribune as IOC members who had accepted bribes from the Salt Lake City bid committee, said he had voted for the Swiss city of Sion.

"My only contact with Mormons has been the 1993 congressional elections when the Mormon church of Talca supported me," said Santander. "They have absolutely nothing to do with the Mormon church in Utah.

"I never received any money, nothing," he added.