German speed skating leadership faces removal motion

The Thuringian Ice and Roller Sports Association (Terv) and the Erfurt Ice Sports Club have filed a formal motion to remove the four-member executive board of the German Speed Skating and Short Track Community (DESG). The motion seeks to dismiss the presidency, led by Matthias Große, during an extraordinary association meeting scheduled for October 17 in Dresden.

Terv has accused the DESG leadership of managing the association in an arbitrary manner, ignoring assembly decisions, treating athletes disrespectfully, and restricting members' rights to ask questions. The association also cited concerns regarding the leadership's decision to initiate legal action against ARD reporting during the Winter Olympics in Milan and Cortina d'Ampezzo without consulting members, a move described as damaging to the organization's reputation.

Matthias Große, through legal counsel, has stated that the president and the DESG board will not comply with demands for resignation. The ongoing power struggle is reportedly linked to a planned structural reform intended to concentrate national training sites in Inzell and Berlin.