PARIS, 27 June 2005 — Olympic champion and former French Sports Minister Guy Drut is to stand aside from the Paris 2012 bid and his posts within the International Olympic Committee until his corruption trial is finished, IOC sources told AFP yesterday.

The 54-year-old, who is expected to make a public announcement within the next 24 hours, has already privately told several IOC members in Almeria, Spain, where he is attending the Mediterranean Games.

According to friends of Drut, he was determined that he did not want the legal case against him to harm either Paris 2012 or the IOC.

“He has no doubt he will be found not guilty but he is determined that his case will not be made an issue that could harm either Paris 2012 or the IOC,” said a friend of Drut.

Drut is believed to have already told IOC President Jacques Rogge of his decision.

Last month Drut, the Montreal Olympic 110-meters hurdles champion, was accused of picking up a 3,000 euro-a-month ($3,847) salary for a non-existent job with a building company from 1990 to 1993.

Drut, a Member of Parliament for the ruling UMP party of French President Jacques Chirac, insisted that his “conscience is clear.” A total of 47 defendants — including politicians, party officials and representatives of some of France’s biggest building companies — are accused of fixing public works contracts in the Paris region to obtain illegal party funding.

However a verdict is not expected before the Singapore vote.

Drut’s decision means he will not be at Singapore for the July 6 vote when the IOC decides whether Paris, New York, London, Moscow or Madrid, win the 2012 Olympics.

There have been rumors recently that some of Paris’ rivals in the battle to host the biggest prize in world sport, would try and exploit the ‘Drut affair’ in an attempt to damage the French bid.

“Even if Drut was there or not in Singapore it would not particularly harm Paris but it would be a distraction at a time when they want to focus on their message to IOC members,” a former bid leader told AFP.

“When the bid cities get to Singapore they want no side issues that have to be dealt with. It wastes time and energy,” he added.

Paris bid chief Philippe Baudillon hinted that Drut may step aside when he was in London last month.

“Guy Drut has said if it would embarrass the bid he would step aside until after Singapore,” Baudillon told English journalists during a briefing in the British capital.

Paris are seen as favorites, closely followed by London, Madrid and New York with Moscow trailing.