Hokkaido Athletics Association’s Unpaid Dues and Embezzlement Scandal

The Hokkaido Association of Athletics Federations (hereinafter referred to as “the Hokkaido Association of Athletics Federations”) has not paid the athlete registration fee of 7,352,500 yen for the fiscal year 2010 to the Japan Association of Athletics Federations (hereinafter referred to as “the JAAF”) even though the fiscal year 2011 has passed. The amount has not been paid even after the end of fiscal year 2011. Furthermore, it was learned that Noboru Maru, the president of the D Association of Athletics Federations of Hokkaido, resigned in the middle of his term, and Yoshihisa Itaya, the vice president, was promoted to acting president on March 2, and the administrative staff was also dismissed at the end of last year.

In the “Report and Apology” uploaded on the website of the DFW, the organization apologizes for non-payment of registration fees, improper expenditure of savings and deposits, and falsification of accounting documents, and states that the root cause is “constant deficit management” and “financial operation like running a bicycle” but that the actual situation has been difficult to clarify.

The registration fee is not a mere membership fee, but a requirement to participate in competitions, and Article 8 of the Athletics Federation’s Registered Member Regulations states that “the registration fee must be paid,” which also applies to junior high and high school students. The DOC failed to pay the registration fee of 7,352,500 yen due for FY2010 by the end of the fiscal year, and was repeatedly urged to do so by the Japan Association of Athletics Federations (JAAF). Furthermore, last November, Yuko Arimori, vice president of the JAAF and director of the World Association of Athletics Federations, told FRIDAY Digital, “If I were a child of Hokkaido, I would be angry, ” and hoped that the DOC would redeem itself through self-help efforts , saying, “I want people to have the feeling that the surrounding organizations will not help them easily.

As for the reason for the nonpayment, the DAA stated, “The payment is in arrears due to a decrease in income caused by the COVID-19 crisis, an increase in expenditures due to the relaxed implementation of the tournament in 2010, and related expenses incurred by hosting the Inter-Highs,” but some officials suspected “a possibility of personal misappropriation (by administrative staff). However, some people have suspected that “there is a possibility of private misappropriation of funds (by administrative staff).

FRIDAY Digital has now independently obtained a document from the March 2 meeting of the Hokkaido Association of Athletics Federations’ Board of Directors. At the bottom of the document, it states, “The contents of the above items (1) through (10) are to be kept confidential until the official interim report is released. ＞The document is highly confidential.

In the document, the raw financial situation of the DFAC was written in the section <(4) Dissolution of the Foundation>.

Since it was discovered that the DAA had not paid the registration fee, the financial situation of the DAA has been discussed. The General Incorporated Foundation is subject to dissolution if its net assets fall below 3 million yen for two consecutive terms (Article 202, Paragraph 2 of the Corporation Law), and its corporate status will cease to exist, but this is clearly stated in the document.

<Although it is necessary to reconstruct the financial statements for the years prior to Reiwa 2022, more than 20 million yen has been lost, and no more than 3 million yen of net assets have been secured>.

<(omitted) Maintenance of the foundation will be impossible unless about 20 million yen is received other than through borrowing>.

Furthermore, one of the solutions is noteworthy.

<(The possibility (of maintaining the foundation) depends on whether the administrative staff will repay the unaccounted money or not.

In other words, it can be interpreted as meaning that if the DFAC staff can repay the money taken out in an unauthorized manner, the net assets of 3 million yen can be secured, and that is what the DFAC is hoping for.

In an interview, we learned that the staff of the DOCOMO was dismissed at the end of December last year, the month after FRIDAY Digital reported on the non-payment issue. According to another source, the employee has acknowledged his wrongdoing and has expressed his intention to repay the money, but the money has not yet been repaid. The DOT, which has suffered serious damage and is in danger of losing its existence, could have brought charges and filed a lawsuit against the employee, but there are even some who are willing to settle the matter out of court.

A leader in Hokkaido, who is passionate about nurturing young athletes, expressed his indignation at this critical situation, saying, “The executives have lost the ability to be a party to the situation.

They are still postponing the resolution of the problem, thinking that ‘something will be done about it. There is no indication that the unpaid registration fees will be paid, and when it comes to the dissolution of the corporation, they tell us not to tell anyone about it.

（It is outrageous that they are trying to settle out of court without filing charges against the employees (suspected of misappropriating funds for personal use). What will they say to the junior high and high school students and their parents who are working hard to achieve their dreams of competing in the Olympics and the World Championships? They should take swift and firm action and disclose all information. If they don’t, they are covering it up.

Toshiki Tsuda, a sportswriter who has been pursuing the non-payment of registration fees and improper accounting practices of the Hokkaido Athletic Association, is scathing in his criticism.

The date of the board of directors’ report that we have obtained is written as ‘Reiwa 2023,’ but officially it is ‘Reiwa 2024. Also, another document, which is not the above document, says that the administrative staff member’s punishment was ‘disciplinary dismissal,’ but it says ‘dismissal with prejudice,’ which is used for public officials.

If it is true that some people involved in track and field in Hokkaido consulted the police in order to file criminal charges against the administrative staff member, and that the officials of the JAAF are offering to settle the case, we have no choice but to say that they are “defending themselves so as not to come under fire. The JRA says it will ‘give the best advice possible,’ but we would like to see them take a step or two further.”

Although the JAAF has received a report from the DORC about the resignation of President Maru, they are unaware of the dismissal of the administrative staff. Regarding the series of moves, JRAF President Mitsugu Oken revealed, “The JRAF is not aware of the dismissal of any of its administrative staff members.

We will continue to request prompt and appropriate action from the JAAF so that our registered members (competitors and judges) in Hokkaido can engage in athletics with peace of mind, and the JAAF will also make efforts to understand the situation and take necessary actions and cooperate.

Among the registered members of the federation in Hokkaido is Shotaro Shiroyama, the Japanese record holder in the long jump, who will be competing in the Japan Championships in June for the Paris Olympics. What “necessary measures” will the Japan Association of Athletics Federations take? Not only those involved in athletics, but everyone is paying attention.