In the secretly filmed meeting with Panorama's undercover team Ivan Slavkov said that he could help bring the 2012 Olympics games to London and influence the votes of other International Olympic Committee (IOC) members.

IOC member Ivan Slavkov was 'open to negotiation' about his vote

During the meeting Slavkov said he had not decided which city to vote for in the race for the 2012 Games and that he was open to negotiations. He went on to say that some IOC members are businessmen who you should offer a business contract to and that others "just believe in sport."

Olympic "agent" Goran Takac explained that because of Slavkov's role as President of the Bulgarian Olympic Committee and position on commissions for FIFA and UEFA he was able to get around strict IOC rules on meetings with IOC members.

And in front of Slavkov, Takac said that the payment for Slavkov's services was included in figures he already given the undercover team from Panorama.

After Slavkov left the meeting Takac said that Slavkov would convince their close friends on the IOC to take money in exchange for their votes

Three days after the programme was broadcast the IOC provisionally suspended Slavkov and launched an investigation saying he had "tarnished the reputation of the Olympic movement."

And the IOC Ethics Commission decided, in its report of 25 October 2004, that: "the complete recording of the meeting between Mr Slavkov and the two journalists reveals that: the extracts shown in the programme on 4 August were not distorted, as Mr Slavkov's words were neither altered not taken out of context; at not time and in no way did Mr Slavkov object to this discussion of the terms of a contract to secure a candidate city the votes of IOC members whom he and Mr Takac were likely to be able to influence, either through financial assistance, or simply through their bonds of friendship; at no point does it emerge from the meeting that Mr Slavkov's sole intention was to catch in the act these corrupters of IOC members."

Mr Slavkov failed in his duty 'to inform the President, without delay, of all events liable to hinder the application of the Olympic Charter or to otherwise adversely affect the Olympic Movement IOC Ethics Commission, 25 October 2004

It goes on to say that Slavkov admits: "having received no mandate to 'find the real roots of corruption'" and that: "he was clearly to share in the financial amount of the contract which Mr Takac negotiated with the representatives of the English firm,"

"Mr Slavkov failed in his duty 'to inform the President, without delay, of all events liable to hinder the application of the Olympic Charter or to otherwise adversely affect the Olympic Movement in his country or in the organisation of the Olympic Movement in which he serves'".

"He did not object to the request made on his behalf and in his presence by Mr Takac, when the purpose of the contract was unquestionably to seek, using all means, including his personal relations, to persuade IOC members to vote for one of the candidate cities."

The Ethics Commission report concludes: "Mr Slavkov tarnished the honour and reputation of the Olympic Movement and the IOC, even though he was aware of the risk involved since the Salt Lake City scandal. Indeed, an IOC member's involvement in this 'negotiation' lent credibility to the hypothesis advanced by the journalists that there were within the IOC members and agents who could corrupt other IOC members. This participation alone was enough to tarnish the reputation of the IOC and the Olympic Movement."

Slavkov was found to have violated the guidelines laid down in the Olympic Charter and IOC Code of Ethics. The Ethics Commission recommended that he be expelled from the IOC at the next full IOC meeting and the Executive Board of the IOC suspended him from the Olympic Movement.

IOC President Jacques Rogge said in dealing with this "very serious issue" the Executive Board has: "taken a clear and strong decision. As I have said before, there is zero tolerance for unethical behaviour in the IOC and this decision reinforces this position."

Rogge has reportedly said he wished Slavkov would resign from the IOC and was according to IOC insiders furious when he saw the full recording of the meeting between Slavkov and the undercover Panorama team.