FIA President Ben Sulayem is accused of sexism and bullying! The accusation was made by a former Mercedes lawyer

The president of the International Automobile Federation (FIA), Mohammed Ben Sulayem, faces charges of sexism and bullying. The accusations were made by former motorsport secretary or Mercedes lawyer Shaila-Ann Rao.

A report in The Telegraph on Tuesday confirmed that the letter in which former motorsport secretary Shaila-Ann Rao accused the FIA president of sexist behaviour is indeed believed to exist.

Telegraph journalists said they had spoken to dozens of current and former FIA staff, officials or the World Motor Sport Council. But the BBC reporters said such matters must be reviewed by the FIA’s senate.

So if Ben Sulayem is guilty of breaching the code of ethics, the whole situation will have a ramification. However, as noted above, the Federation Internationale de l’Automobile insists that due process was followed from the outset, conciliation was conducted by the President of the Senate, and therefore no report was made to the Ethics Commission.

However, the FIA itself has already responded to this accusation, and in such a way that all due process was followed from the outset.

“The FIA takes allegations of misconduct very seriously and addresses all complaints through thorough and clear procedures,” the official statement said.

“As previously stated, both parties have agreed to end their cooperation in November 2022. Mutual privacy terms have been agreed, as is normal business practice. No complaints have been received against the president.”

Finally, the FIA also reminds that precise procedures are in place against such matters and all employees are familiar with them and are regularly trained.

Sources: The Telegraph, BBC