Mexican Olympic Committee reach agreement to end political row

An agreement has been signed between Carlos Padilla (left) and Alfredo Castillo ©COM

A cooperation agreement has been signed between the Mexican Olympic Committee (COM) and the sports arm of the Government to seemingly end weeks of hostility within the nation.

This comes just two days after the International Olympic Committee (IOC) declared a resolution had been reached and that Mexican participation at next Summer's Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro was not in doubt.

A simmering conflict between the National Commission of Physical Culture and Sports (CONADE) and sporting bodies erupted into the open last month after CONADE head Alfredo Castillo accused 10 sports federations of misusing public money designed for athletes.

His attempts to intervene in the running of these bodies and make new appointments were criticised as a violation of the IOC's strict rules regarding autonomy.

insidethegames revealed a letter was sent by IOC Executive Board member and autonomy tsar Patrick Hickey warning that Mexico could be suspended - threatening their Rio 2016 participation - if the situation was not resolved.

“We signed an agreement between the National Commission of Physical Culture and Sports (CONADE) and the Mexican Olympic Committee,” COM President Carlos Padilla has now confirmed to insidethegames.

“We have made progress in favour of Mexican sport, respecting the Olympic Charter, the IOC and federations, as well as transparency in financial resources.”

Castillo added: “CONADE recognises the International Olympic Committee and the Olympic Charter as the legal instrument governing the destinies of Olympism and undertakes to abide it."

Hostilities had threatened Mexican participation from Rio 2016, with the men's basketball team still suspended from FIBA ©FIBA — Hostilities had threatened Mexican participation at Rio 2016, with the men's basketball team still suspended from FIBA ©FIBA

The agreement appears less of a far-reaching breakthrough and more a mutually beneficial solution in order to guarantee Olympic participation, something hailed as a priority by all sides.

Corruption investigations against officials within the federations are continuing, with the COM and the IOC having supported the probe and insisting how they will not protect anyone proven of wrongdoing.

In a succession of posts on their website, CONADE have also outlined how they are changing up some aspects of the way governing bodies oversee and promote sport.

This includes the introduction of awards to recognise the work done by State Governments at a sporting level, it was revealed.