The Polish Olympic Committee (PKOl) removed its president, Radoslaw Piesiewicz, on Sept. 14 after his arrest on suspicion of receiving kickbacks connected to the collapsed cryptocurrency exchange Zondacrypto. The executive board appointed Marian Kmita as acting president for the remainder of Piesiewicz’s term, which ends in April, when a permanent president is due to be elected. Internal opposition had grown for months, including a formal protest by 15 committee members over the sponsorship agreement with Zondacrypto. Polish authorities opened an investigation in April after reports alleged that former Zondacrypto chief executive Przemysław Kral gave Piesiewicz gifts, including a $46,605 luxury watch, in exchange for influence with UOKiK (Poland’s consumer protection authority). Government officials allege that Zondacrypto operated as a Ponzi scheme and had links to nationalist opposition groups, organized crime and Russian intelligence services. Authorities estimate the collapse caused about $94 million in losses and affected around 30,000 victims. Kmita said the scandal left PKOl in a "rather difficult financial situation" and announced an immediate audit to determine the full financial damage.