Alfons Hormann is to step down as the president of the DOSB, the German Olympic Sports Confederation, after coming in for criticism over his management style.

The 60-year-old Hormann, who has been in the role since 2013, will not seek re-election in December.

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A general meeting will be convened that month at which a successor will be chosen.

Hormann's decision comes after criticism of his management, triggered by an anonymous letter from a group of DOSB employees in May, and he was facing a vote of confidence in September.

The letter accused Hormann and other top officials of creating a “climate of fear” at the Frankfurt headquarters, and putting pressure on employees and taking a relaxed approach to coronavirus regulations.

With just over a month to go until this year's Olympics, the DOSB presidium has said it will prepare an “orderly transition” in the coming months and “do everything possible to support the [German] athletes at the Olympic and Paralympic Games in Tokyo, and to get preparations for the [2022] Winter Games in Beijing under way".

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It has not been confirmed if Hormann will travel to Japan for the Olympics, as was planned.

Hormann himself said: “The DOSB and the entire sport need strength and unity to continue to operate successfully and represent the interests of its member organizations. The well-being of German sport must always take precedence over the ambitions and goals of the people involved.”

The early election was proposed by the DOSB's ethics committee, which looked into the allegations against Hormann.

The committee also advised against a vote of confidence, which was ignored by the DOSB presidium, but the majority of individual state sport federations insisted on following the committee’s recommendations.

Kaweh Niroomand, the vice president of economics and finance, is also stepping down, and it is unclear if the other vice presidents will stand for re-election.