Sheikh Salman Sabah Salem Al-Humoud Al-Sabah has lost his CAS Case ©ISSF
Kuwait’s Sheikh Salman Sabah Salem Al-Humoud Al-Sabah has had his appeal against International Shooting Sport Federation (ISSF) President Olegario Vázquez Raña’s re-election last year thrown out by the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS), it has been announced.
Sheikh Salman, the Kuwaiti Minister of Information and Youth Affairs at the centre of a bitter row with the Olympic Movement and who recently stepped down as President of the Asian Shooting Confederation, stood against the Mexican but was unsuccessful following a 165-128 defeat.
He alleged “the existence of a number of violations in the process” so as to render the election void but the CAS dismissed his appeal and the result stands.
insidethegames exclusively reported on the eve of the election, which took place on December 3, that Sheikh Salman had allegedly been using his Government position to illegally lobby voters.
His representatives had reportedly contacted Sports Ministers around the world on his behalf urging them to support his campaign for the ISSF Presidency.
“The CAS Panel was unable to find sufficient evidence that the rule violations alleged by Sheikh Salman took place, and in addition, could not find any indication of how certain alleged failures could have affected, or did affect, the validity of the election,” a CAS statement read.
“Accordingly, the Panel has dismissed the appeal and the result of the election is confirmed.”
Vázquez Raña, President of the ISSF since 1980, welcomed the news and hopes he can continue to grow the sport across the world.
“I am very satisfied with the decision of the Court of Arbitration for Sport,” he said. 
“This decision clearly vindicates us from the accusations made by my opponent in the ISSF elections, who did not agree with a democratic and constitutionally valid ISSF election process.
“I wish to express my gratitude to the ISSF family for electing me and for their support throughout all of my Presidency.
“It is now time for the entire shooting sport family to unite for the benefit of the sport and our athletes.”
ISSF President Olegario Vázquez Raña has welcomed the decision of the Court of Arbitration for Sport
ISSF President Olegario Vázquez Raña has welcomed the 
decision of the Court of Arbitration for Sport ©ISSF
The CAS decision marks the latest blow for Sheikh Salman, who remains at loggerheads with the Olympic Movement after he was behind a new law which, they claim, gives him control over all sports clubs in the country.
The International Olympic Committee (IOC) believe this compromises the autonomy and independence of sporting bodies.
Kuwait was suspended from the IOC last month after a deadline of October 27 for changes to be made to the law came and went, with the law instead coming into force and beginning to be implemented.
The IOC’s Executive Board also announced in October that it had withdrawn its recognition of the Asian Shooting Championships, a qualifying event for Rio 2016 which took place in Kuwait City from November 1 to 12, after it refused a visa to an official from Israel.
This prompted Vazquez Raña to vow to find a replacement location to stage an Asian Qualifying Competition for the Games in the Brazilian city next year.

Posted By Thom Erik Syrdahl
Source - http://www.insidethegames.biz/