AOC media man reprimanded in bullying case

Australian Olympic Committee media director Mike Tancred has been reprimanded over bullying claims made against him by ex-AOC chief Fiona de Jong.

Mike Tancred

AOC media director Mike Tancred has been reprimanded but cleared of bullying. (AAP)

Australian Olympic Committee (AOC) media director Mike Tancred is facing more bullying claims after being reprimanded for abusing the organisation's former chief executive.

Tancred has been cleared of bullying ex-AOC chief Fiona de Jong because his actions weren't repetitive, an independent committee found.

But he remains stood down from his role as investigations continue into separate bullying claims against him by other AOC staffers.

De Jong accused Tancred of bullying her after she quit as AOC chief executive last December.

The AOC formed an independent committee of three former judges to rule on de Jong's claim.

The committee ruled Tancred's conduct "does not rise to the level of bullying because it was not repetitive conduct against Ms de Jong", the AOC said in a statement on Wednesday.

But the committee found Tancred's actions amounted to "disreputable conduct" which breached an AOC ethical behaviour by-law.

"The sanction determined by the independent committee is that Mr Tancred be severely reprimanded for his conduct, which will form part of his employment record," the AOC said.

"The independent committee will continue investigations into separate complaints which have been made by other persons against Mr Tancred ... (who) will remain stood down."

Tancred was not immediately available for comment.

He stood down from his job on April 26 pending the outcome of the de Jong investigation.

De Jong, who quit as AOC chief last December, alleged Tancred threatened her and her family.

She lodged a formal complaint at the time but only went public with the claims during a bitter election battle for the AOC presidency.

Incumbent president John Coates retained the role from challenger Danni Roche at a vote earlier this month.

De Jong said last month that Tancred's case was among a dozen instances of workplace harassment in the AOC from 2004 to last year.

Those claims prompted the AOC to commit to an independent review into its workplace practices - a review separate to the bullying investigations.


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Published 31 May 2017 5:50pm
Source: AAP

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