Exclusive: World Olympians Association pay the price for standing up to Bach’s IOC

Thomas Bach usually gets what he wants, but when he doesn't he makes life difficult for those who oppose him. Meanwhile, David Owen continues to look for signs as to who will be Bach's successor

The International Olympic Committee has suspended its funding of the World Olympians Association and is trying to steal its intellectual property after the organisation refused to allow itself to be taken over.

The IOC’s annual grant of $1 million had enabled the WOA, an independent association of Olympic Games competitors founded in 1995, to help it run its day-to-day operations.

The main purpose of the WOA is to promote the Olympic ideals and fair play, advance environmental protection, educate against doping, provide educational resources, work against violence and intolerance, support diversity and equality, contribute to sport-related charities, host special hospitality centres and involve Olympians in social support,

The WOA also launched and administers the OLY post-nominal letters initiative. The scheme allows Olympians to use the OLY lettering on any official documentation after their name to indicate they have competed at the Games.