Africa-Press – Liberia. A storm of controversy has erupted in Liberia’s sporting community as national sports federations have banded together to demand sweeping reforms at the Liberia National Olympic Committee (LNOC), denouncing what they describe as decades of dictatorship, electoral manipulation, and ethical misconduct.
The backlash, which has intensified because of a secret general assembly for election in violation of the Olympic Committee election process held on February 14, 2025, has now escalated to the international stage. Multiple federations, led by the Liberia Wrestling Federation (LWF), have filed a formal complaint and petition for arbitration with the LNOC Executive Committee, and copied to the International Olympic Committee (IOC) and the Association of National Olympic Committees of Africa (ANOCA).
At the center of the firestorm is former LNOC President Philipbert Browne, whose leadership is being accused of consolidating power through unconstitutional amendments, financial opacity, and retaliatory tactics against dissenters.
“For over 22 years, the same circle has dominated the LNOC,” said Bonokai George B. Gould, President of the Liberia Wrestling Federation. “But this is no longer about longevity. This is about a systematic dismantling of democratic structures, abuse of power, and silencing of voices demanding accountability. Liberia’s Olympic dream has always been hijacked.”
According to stakeholders, the secret General Assembly on February 14 was marred by constitutional violations and orchestrated electoral fraud. They alleged that the LNOC rushed through the adoption of a new draft constitution, introduced questionable absentee ballots, and installed a slate of loyalists through uncontested “white ballots.”
Mr. Gould further claimed that a new constitution, under the guise initiated by Mr. Browne without the consent of the federation, was claimed and endorsed in their general assembly and used as a constitution on the same day for the election. The alleged election was conducted in conflict with their so-called constitution. Besides, the LNOC had never had any approved constitution during his regime and apparently even before.
In a seven-page formal complaint, stakeholders detailed a series of violations that they say undermine both the LNOC Constitution and the principles of the Olympic Charter. They argue that no election committee was formed as required, and that the General Assembly—which was scheduled as a two-day event—was hastily concluded in a single day (6 hours) without adequate deliberation.
“The rushed process, they say, was because of a pending court order expected to halt the process after receiving a complaint filed against the executive committee of Mr. Philipbert Browne,” Gould said. “They also accuse the LNOC of accepting notarized absentee ballots from overseas under dubious conditions, while ignoring objections raised by the Liberia Athletics Federation.”
Additionally, Gould claimed that the newly selected leadership team is entirely of Browne loyalists, despite ongoing ethical concerns about some of the individuals involved. The concealment of the LNOC’s audit report has further raised suspicions of financial mismanagement, while the entire Congress is being described as unconstitutional and its outcomes legally invalid.
The complaint also calls attention to a series of defamatory attacks allegedly carried out by Mr. Browne against Dr. Gould.
The federations are now demanding urgent corrective measures. Among their requests is the nullification of the February 14 General Assembly and the dismissal of the disputed constitution. They are calling for the establishment of a neutral and independent election committee, new leadership elections within 90 days, and a formal reprimand of Mr. Browne for ethical violations.
In addition, they demand a public apology and corrective statement in favor of Dr. Gould, as well as financial compensation for the reputational and psychological harm caused to him.
The complainants have given the LNOC ten calendar days to respond. Failure to act within that timeline, they say, will result in an immediate escalation of the case to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) in Switzerland.
Meanwhile, Liberia’s athletes continue to suffer the consequences of poor governance. Many have missed international qualifiers and received no support due to said bad governance, and overall neglect.
“Our athletes are training barefoot while funds meant for Olympic preparation are being misappropriated,” said a coach with the Liberia Athletics Federation. “No grants, no support, no infrastructure—just endless politics.”
Liberia’s participation in the 2024 Paris Olympics was marred by administrative confusion and internal disputes. With the countdown already on for the 2028 Olympics in Los Angeles, federation heads say Liberia risks another lost generation of athletes. It is certain that development funds from Olympic Solidarity for athletes’ preparation will not be applied properly to prepare young athletes for the said Olympics.
The normal thing will continue to not develop local talent but recruit diaspora Liberians from the USA, etc., who failed to qualify there to come and represent Liberia. The Olympic years back provided funds for an Olympic village in Liberia to be used for athletes’ development. The village was never built and the use of the money remains questionable with impunity.
Gould and his allies are calling on the IOC and ANOCA to send independent observers to investigate and enforce compliance with international standards should the LNOC not see their request for arbitration and grant it.
“The IOC cannot sit by while its name is used to justify autocracy,” Gould said. “We need help. We are asking for international oversight to restore the LNOC’s credibility and to protect Liberia’s place in the global Olympic family.”
“We are not backing down,” said one federation leader. “This fight is not about politics—it’s about the soul of Liberian sports. It’s about restoring hope to the young athletes who still dream of standing on the Olympic podium under the Liberian flag.”
However, documents in our possession filed by Dr. Gould, Sr., President, Liberia Wrestling Federation on behalf of the Complainant Federation(s) to the Executive Committee of the Liberia National Olympic Committee (LNOC) dated on April 18, 2025 said, “Dear Esteemed Members of the Executive Committee:
“On behalf of the undersigned federation(s) and in accordance with the provisions of the LNOC Constitution and the Olympic Charter, I respectfully submit the attached formal complaint and petition for arbitration.”
Dr. Gould’s compliant letter disclosed, “This submission outlines serious concerns and violations arising from the conduct and outcomes of the LNOC secret General Assembly and leadership elections held on February 14, 2025. The complaint also addresses persistent governance issues, electoral irregularities, and ongoing public defamation by LNOC leadership, particularly by Mr. Philipbert Browne.”
He added, “We urge the Executive Committee to consider the substance of this petition with the seriousness it warrants. The document outlines specific reliefs requested and provides an opportunity for the LNOC to respond within ten (10) calendar days. Failure to do so will necessitate the escalation of this matter to appropriate international bodies, including the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS), as indicated in the complaint. We hope this process will contribute to upholding the values of transparency, dignity, fairness, and ethical governance within Liberia’s Olympic movement.”
In a dramatic response to ongoing allegations and a leadership dispute within the LNOC, its former president, Philipbert S. Brown, has strongly distanced himself from the organization, citing his resignation and asserting he no longer has any official ties to the committee.
“The second thing is that you must realize that I’m not president of the LNOC. I resigned,” Mr. Brown clarified. “I cannot speak for the LNOC because I’m no longer president.”
Brown emphasized that despite continued claims by others, including George Gould, he holds no official status within the committee.
“How do they recognize me as president when I’m no longer president? That election was a kangaroo election — but still, I am not president and have no links to the committee, except as a former president,” he said.
He added that while the LNOC constitution had named him as Chairman of the Board, he had also resigned from that position and now refers any inquiries regarding the committee to Secretary General Ahmed Rennie.
Brown also went on to make serious allegations against George Gould, a former LNOC official and chief of mission to the Tokyo Olympics.
According to Brown, Mr. Gould was entrusted with US$6,500 to cover his airfare and accommodation while representing Liberia in Tokyo, with an additional US$3,000 designated as his stipend. However, Brown alleged that Gould fled Japan without settling his hotel bills — a matter later reported to the LNOC by the Regional Olympic Committee (ROC).
“Mr. Gould actually ran away from the hotel without paying his bills,” Brown alleged. “The ROC wrote us with the bills. When we asked Gould, he had no explanation. Because of this, we removed him from the position and replaced him with Ahmed Tupac, who is now Secretary General.”
Brown added that the Tokyo incident was not an isolated case. He claimed that during the Ebola outbreak, the Committee of Olympians sent a 40-foot container of medicine and food to Liberia. Brown said Gould, who chaired the handling committee, allegedly sold the entire shipment and never made a report or returned the proceeds.
“George Gould sold the 40-foot container and ate the money,” Brown alleged. “Because of this, he was suspended from the Olympic Committee and has not been part of its meetings since.”
“If you doubt what I’m saying, ask Senator Darius Dillon. He was chairman of Youth and Sports at the time. He called a meeting at the Ministry of Youth and Sports and confronted Gould. Senator Dillon insulted him and walked out. Ask Deputy Minister Andy Quamie — he was there,” Brown said.
Mr. Brown concluded by reaffirming his disassociation from the LNOC’s current leadership and operations.
“I have no Olympic documents. All I have is the truth and a responsibility to defend it,” he said. “I’m an ex-president and that’s where it ends.”
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