Mieczysław Nowicki takes interim helm of Polish Olympic Committee after president's arrest

Interim leadership transition

Mieczysław Nowicki assumed executive management of the Polish Olympic Committee (PKOl) following the arrest and detention of president Radosław Piesiewicz. The 75-year-old vice president and former Olympic cycling medalist invoked Article 50 of the committee statute, which mandates that a designated vice president exercises presidential duties during the leader's absence. Nowicki activated a written authorization signed by Piesiewicz in 2025 that had remained dormant until this crisis. Nowicki previously served as president of the Office of Physical Culture and Tourism from 2000 to 2001, where he oversaw the introduction of state pensions for Olympic medalists. He won silver in the 100-kilometer team race and bronze in the individual road race at the 1976 Montreal Games.

Criminal charges and court detention

Officers detained Piesiewicz in Warsaw on Thursday, moving him to the Silesian branch of the National Prosecutor's Office. Prosecutors charged him with paid protection and unlawful satisfaction of creditors linked to cryptocurrency platform Zondacrypto. Investigators allege that in 2025 Piesiewicz cited personal influence at the Office of Competition and Consumer Protection (UOKiK) derived from an acquaintance with a former prime minister, accepting a luxury wristwatch valued at nearly 170,000 PLN (about 40,000 EUR) from Zondacrypto head Przemysław Kral. A second charge alleges that in April 2026 Piesiewicz induced a board member at operator BB Trade Estonia OU to disburse 195,000 PLN and 100,000 EUR to select creditors while facing insolvency. Katowice District Court approved a three-month pre-trial detention on Saturday morning after prosecutors cited the risk of procedural obstruction. Piesiewicz pleaded not guilty to both counts.

Government and international reactions

Polish Minister of Sport and Tourism Jakub Rutnicki formally petitioned the International Olympic Committee (IOC) on Monday to assist with institutional corrective measures. Rutnicki had previously urged the PKOl management board to take immediate steps to restore public confidence. The IOC stated that it is monitoring developments directly with national officials to safeguard governance standards across Polish sports bodies.

I received the authorization from the president in 2025. It was never used. We want to show that PKOl functions. Now my role comes down to convening the management board presidium.

Former Polish president Aleksander Kwaśniewski, who served as PKOl president from 1988 to 1991, noted that political friction had surrounded the leadership since Piesiewicz took office in April 2023. Kwaśniewski emphasized that the sports community must resolve the administration crisis quickly.

People from the Olympic community must now make the right decisions as quickly as possible so as not to forfeit the prestige of Polish Olympic sport.

Presidium agenda and organizational governance

Nowicki called a formal meeting of the 16-member PKOl presidium for 8 September 2026. The presidium, which includes eight vice presidents alongside the executive leadership, will set the date for a full management board session to address the president's detention. While vice president Tomasz Chamera voiced concerns about possible IOC sanctions, PKOl press spokesperson Katarzyna Kochaniak clarified that secretary general Marek Pałus remains in regular communication with Lausanne to ensure operational continuity. The 8 September presidium session will formally determine whether the full board will initiate replacement procedures or maintain interim governance during the three-month legal proceedings.