European Olympic Committees reject letter backing Dragan Primorac for Croatian Olympic Committee presidency

The European Olympic Committees (EOC) issued a statement distancing itself from a letter that appeared to show the EOC Medical and Anti‑Doping Commission’s support for Dragan Primorac’s candidature for president of the Croatian Olympic Committee (HOO). The EOC clarified that the letter does not represent the organisation’s official position and stressed that the election of a new HOO president is solely a matter for the Croatian Olympic Committee, underscoring the principle of sport autonomy.

HOO presidential candidate Josip Varvodić cited the EOC’s reaction, arguing that the episode demonstrates why the Croatian Olympic movement needs leadership that understands and respects international sport institutions, the autonomy of sport, and the credibility of the Olympic movement. He criticised Primorac’s campaign for allegedly ignoring these norms and called for a change in HOO leadership.