Croatian Ski Scandal Deepens as Olympic Officials Arrested and President Resigns

The corruption scandal involving the Croatian Ski Association has widened into the country’s Olympic Committee. Last week, the president of the Croatian Olympic Committee (COC) resigned as prosecutors expanded a sweeping investigation into the alleged diversion of millions of euros intended to support Croatian skiing.

The latest developments come as Croatia’s Office for the Prevention of Corruption and Organized Crime (USKOK) continues investigating an alleged scheme involving approximately €30 million ($35 million) that prosecutors say was diverted from the Croatian Ski Association between 2018 and 2026.

• Related: Croatian Ski Association Scandal Raises Questions About Sports Funding

Investigators also arrested Damir Šegota, director of the Olympic Program Office of the COC, and his wife, and searched both the family home and Šegota‘s office. Prosecutors allege that the Šegotas accepted at least €160,000 ($186,000) in bribes from former Croatian Ski Association director Vedran Pavlek in exchange for helping the federation secure millions of euros in additional Olympic funding. Šegota resigned from his position shortly after his arrest.

USKOK alleges Pavlek funneled cash payments to Šegota over roughly a decade and also financed a €10,000 ($11,000) scholarship for his son. Investigators further allege that some of the money was laundered through purchases of investment gold worth more than €130,000 ($151,000). Šegota, who remains in custody over concerns he could influence witnesses, denies all wrongdoing. His wife was released from custody.

Prosecutors allege Pavlek used his relationship with Šegota to secure more than €2 million ($2.3 million) in additional Olympic funding for the Croatian Ski Association, including money allocated for equipment and Olympic qualification programs.

The investigation has also reached the Croatian Olympic Committee itself. Authorities searched the home and office of COC Secretary General Siniša Krajač, although the COC stated that Krajač is not a suspect and was questioned only as a witness. Krajač himself told Croatian media that he is participating in the investigation solely in that capacity. “I’m in the role of a witness,” Krajač said, adding that he would not comment further while the investigation remains ongoing. Investigators have not publicly explained why searches were carried out at his home and office.

• Related: Croatian Alpine Ski Director Arrested as €30 Million Investigation Shakes Sport

Meanwhile, COC President Zlatko Mateša, who has led the organization since 2002, announced his resignation, saying Croatian sport must focus entirely on restoring public confidence. “Although I have fulfilled my duties during my term of office exclusively in the interest of Croatian sport, I believe that, under the given circumstances, it is my moral obligation to take a step that makes it possible to draw all attention to the processes that must bring clarity, confidence and stability,” Mateša wrote. He emphasized that investigations had shown funds transferred from the Olympic Committee itself were not used illegally and said any irregularities relate to other Croatian Ski Association revenue. His resignation, he said, was made out of “moral responsibility.”

Croatia’s Minister of Tourism and Sports Tonči Glavina called for a complete investigation and said the government would not tolerate corruption within the country’s sporting institutions. “If all of this proves to be true, it is unequivocally necessary to conduct a fundamental reconstruction of the Croatian Olympic Committee,” Glavina said.

For Croatia’s athletes, the scandal arrives at an especially unfortunate time. Over the past three decades, Croatia has built one of alpine skiing’s most remarkable success stories. Under Pavlek’s leadership, siblings Janica and Ivica Kostelić transformed the country into a World Cup powerhouse despite Croatia having limited skiing terrain and infrastructure. More recently, Croatia has remained among the sport’s elite thanks to athletes including Zrinka Ljutić, who captured the 2024-25 FIS Alpine Ski World Cup slalom crystal globe, giant slalom specialist Filip Zubčić, and slalom racer Leona Popović.

The allegations do not involve any athletes, nor is there any suggestion Croatia’s current ski team was involved in the investigation. Instead, prosecutors allege that funds intended to develop skiing and support Olympic preparation may instead have been diverted from these athletes to officials for personal enrichment. If proven, the alleged misuse of public and Olympic money represents more than financial misconduct. Development funding exists to help athletes access coaching, equipment, travel, training camps, and international competition. Instead, prosecutors allege that money intended to develop Croatian skiing and support Olympic preparation was diverted from the athletes and programs it was meant to fund for personal enrichment.

USKOK says approximately 120,000 documents recovered from Pavlek’s laptop continue to be analyzed, and Croatian Chief State Attorney Ivan Turudić has indicated that additional proceedings and arrests remain possible as investigators work through the evidence. The investigation remains ongoing. Pavlek is currently held in Kazakhstan and awaiting extradition.