Law & Justice
Polish Olympic chief arrested in crypto graft probe
Radoslaw Piesiewicz, president of the Polish Olympic Committee, was arrested Thursday as part of a corruption inquiry linked to sponsorship contracts with the Zondacrypto digital currency platform, a judicial source told AFP.
Polish Sports Minister Jakub Rudnicki confirmed the arrest in a post on X and said Piesiewicz should not have led the committee.
Piesiewicz is suspected of receiving kickbacks from awarding sponsorship contracts to Zondacrypto. The Polish government accuses the platform of links to nationalist opposition groups, organised crime and Russian intelligence services. Those accusations have not been established in the supplied information.
Polish authorities launched the investigation in April. A majority of Poland's sports federations later called for Piesiewicz to resign, saying he was personally responsible for signing a sponsorship agreement with Zondacrypto on behalf of the committee.
Under the deal, Olympic medallists at February's Milano-Cortina winter Games were meant to receive prizes in cryptocurrency. The platform later encountered financial difficulties and went dark.
The Polish government estimates Zondacrypto's disappearance caused 350 million zlotys, or $94 million, in losses, with around 30,000 people affected.
Media reports claimed Piesiewicz was given a watch worth about 40,000 euros by Zondacrypto's Przemyslaw Kral. Piesiewicz has said he paid for the watch himself.
Update
Polish Sports Minister Jakub Rudnicki confirmed Radoslaw Piesiewicz's arrest on X.
Polish authorities launched the investigation in April.
Sports federations said Piesiewicz signed the Zondacrypto sponsorship deal for the Polish Olympic Committee.
The government estimates Zondacrypto's disappearance caused 350 million zlotys, or $94 million, in losses and affected around 30,000 people.
Media reports claimed Piesiewicz received a watch worth about 40,000 euros from Zondacrypto's Przemyslaw Kral; Piesiewicz said he paid for it himself.
Source note: AFP news report published on 27 August 2026 at 10:47:37 UTC.
Update
The arrested official was identified as Radoslaw Piesiewicz.
Piesiewicz is suspected of receiving kickbacks from awarding PKOI sponsoring contracts.
The alleged payments were made via the Zondacrypto digital currency platform.
The Polish government accuses Zondacrypto of links to nationalist opposition groups, organised crime and Russian secret services.
Source note: AFP news report published on 27 August 2026 at 09:54:21 UTC.
Uncertainty notes
The supplied information does not establish whether the accusations about Zondacrypto's links are proven.
The supplied information does not establish whether Piesiewicz received the watch as a gift or paid for it himself.
The exact status of any crypto-bonus payments to medallists is described only as unreliable.
Source
AFP news report published on .