Polish Sports Associations Demand Immediate Resignation of PKOl President Radosław Piesiewicz

Polish sports associations and Minister of Sport and Tourism Jakub Rutnicki gathered at PGE Narodowy in Warsaw on Friday and issued a formal statement demanding the immediate resignation of PKOl President Radosław Piesiewicz over his handling of a sponsorship deal with cryptocurrency exchange Zondacrypto, which is under investigation for fraud and money laundering. The statement was read before television cameras by four-time Olympic walking champion Robert Korzeniowski, who said the associations were submitting a joint appeal for Piesiewicz's immediate departure. The statement was adopted by the representatives of the associations by acclamation. The scandal centers on a sponsorship agreement signed in October between PKOl and Zondacrypto, which became the committee's general sponsor. The Regional Prosecutor's Office in Katowice launched an investigation into the company on April 17, 2026, on suspicion of significant-value fraud and money laundering.

„We express firm disapproval of the actions of PKOl President Radosław Piesiewicz, which led to a breach of trust in the PKOl and Polish athletes, and consequently caused serious reputational consequences for the entire sports system, including entities supporting Polish sport — State Treasury companies and the Polish Army” — Robert Korzeniowski via TVN24

350 million PLN in losses, 35,000 Poles deceived Minister Rutnicki described the scale of the Zondacrypto affair in stark terms before the assembled sports officials. Investigators noted that the damage figure grows with each passing day, as does the number of victims. Among those affected were Polish athletes, who reported that they were unable to cash out funds transferred to their Zondacrypto accounts. In total, the company owed athletes for their results at the Winter Games in Italy, including prizes for places 4 through 8 — a first in Polish Olympic history. Triple medalist in ski jumping Kacper Tomasiak was among those unable to convert their tokens into cash, according to TVN24.

„350 million PLN in losses, 35 thousand Poles deceived, medalists have not received money, and even if they do, thousands of Poles will be at a loss. And in all of this, the image of the Polish athlete is involved” — Jakub Rutnicki via RMF24

Małysz says he warned about unstable sponsor before Games The meeting at PGE Narodowy was attended by prominent figures from Polish sport, including Polish Ski Association President Adam Małysz, Polish Rowing Association President and PKOl Vice-President Adam Korol, mountaineer Piotr Pustelnik representing the Polish Mountaineering Association, and IOC member Maja Włoszczowska. Małysz said his association had warned before the Games that Zondacrypto was not a stable sponsor.

„I sign my name to these words. Today we are the most affected due to the signed agreement, where we warned that this sponsor is not a stable sponsor. I hope that after this meeting we will finally start to act” — Adam Małysz via sportowefakty.wp.pl

The associations' statement specifically condemned the "instrumental" use of Polish medalists to promote an entity from the cryptocurrency sector. Despite the mounting pressure and irregularities in Zondacrypto's functioning, Piesiewicz had previously admitted that he saw no grounds for PKOl to terminate the contract with the company. Rutnicki, speaking before the meeting began, said PKOl had become "a place of constant scandals" and that the image of the Polish athlete had been used to promote a company "that is in a dramatic situation, that is going bankrupt."

Radosław Piesiewicz has served as PKOl president since 2023, having previously led the Polish Basketball Association from 2018 to 2024. The Zondacrypto sponsorship, signed in October, marked the first time PKOl had promised awards to athletes finishing in positions 4 through 8 at the Olympic Games, in addition to medal bonuses. The investigation launched by the Katowice prosecutor's office on April 17, 2026, covers charges of significant-value fraud and money laundering, with estimated damages of at least 350 million PLN on the day proceedings were initiated.

Working group to shield athletes' images from future misuse Minister Rutnicki announced that a working group would be established in the wake of the meeting to develop legislative solutions aimed at preventing the use of athletes' images to promote entities that raise doubts. The minister framed the issue as one requiring systemic legal reform, not merely an internal PKOl matter. Rutnicki had said as recently as Tuesday on the television program "Kropka nad i" that he hoped the affair would teach a "fundamental lesson" about who should lead important institutions such as the Polish Olympic Committee. The meeting was officially convened as a forum for discussion, with Rutnicki emphasizing that any formal decision to remove Piesiewicz remained the prerogative of the sports associations themselves.

„We all speak with one voice that there is no consent for these actions” — Jakub Rutnicki via TVN24

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