Former IOC president Juan Antonio Samaranch is in hospital for the second time in less than a month, for what was confirmed by friends and officials who asked not to be identified, as kidney problems and dialysis treatment.
IOC director general Francois Carrard said he had no details of Samaranch’s medical condition, and said it was a private matter. “I am told he is staying for some days at the hospital for further observations. I spoke with him a couple of days ago and he is in good spirits”.
Samaranch spent 11 days in a Lausanne hospital last month after returning from the Olympic meetings in Moscow with what the IOC said was “extreme fatigue”. Following his release July 27 he spent a few days in Lausanne then traveled to Barcelona but was soon hospitalized again.
Meanwhile, the IOC said Samaranch would not receive a salary for his new role as honorary life president. Carrard said Samaranch had not asked for a salary to go with the position, and would only be paid standard expenses.
To help him carry out his duties, Samaranch would have an office and staff at the IOC’s headquarters in Lausanne.
