Francesco Ricci Bitti will stand unopposed for a second term as President of ASOIF ©Getty Images

Francesco Ricci Bitti will stand unopposed for a second term as President of the Association of Summer Olympic International Federations (ASOIF), it was announced here today.

The 74-year-old Italian was the only candidate to put himself forward by yesterday's deadline.

The election will be held during the annual ASOIF General Assembly, due to take place during the SportAccord Convention in this Swiss city on April 19. 

Ricci Bitti has been leading the organisation since 2013, when he succeeded Switzerland's Denis Oswald, who had held the position for 13 years. 

Ricci Bitti is also Honorary Life President of the International Tennis Federation, an organisation he had led between 1999 and 2015 before stepping down last year to be replaced by American David Haggerty. 

He is also member of the International Olympic Committee (IOC) Coordination Commissions for Rio 2016 and Tokyo 2020.

Italian Francesco Ricci Bitti was President of the International Tennis Federation between 1999 and 2015 ©Getty Images
Italian Francesco Ricci Bitti was President of the International Tennis Federation between 1999 and 2015 ©Getty Images

Ricci Bitti also sits on the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) Executive Committee and WADA Foundation Board.

He served as an IOC member from 2006 to 2012, until he reached the age limit of 70.

Ricci Bitti is also the President of SportAccord Convention, a position he took over last year following the resignation of Marius Vizer after he publicly criticised the IOC and its President Thomas Bach. 

The ASOIF President is elected for a four-year mandate, in the year of the Summer Olympic Games, and the new term commences on  January 1 the following year.

Immediate re-election is only possible twice.

ASOIF currently has 28 Member Federations.