LAUSANNE, Feb 1: Olympics boss Juan Antonio Samaranch launched a scathing attack on Sunday against media critics who have ' called for him to quit over the Salt Lake City corruption scandal, reports Reuters.

"I am astonished at what is going on." the International Olympic Committee (IOC) president told a news conference.

Speaking on the eve of an IOC executive board meeting in Lausanne which will precede a three-day anti-doping conference. Samaranch said: 'We will not deal with the rubbish that is being reported in some newspapers."

As well as criticism of the IOC’s role in the Salt Lake City votes-for-cash scandal that has engulfed the Olympic movement. IOC members have been castigated for what is widely seen as their unduly opulent life style.

"For example, 1 learned today that they are saying in Sweden that I live in a Villa and fly by helicopter every day to the IOC headquarters."

In fact, Samaranch has a permanent suite at the Lausanne Palace hotel about 10 minutes drive from the IOC's Chateau de Vidy headquarters on the shores of lake Geneva.

Samaranch also referred to reports that the IOC's contract with Olympic hosts cities specified what grade of caviar IOC members expected to be fed during the Games.

"I cannot understand it," he added.

DreSsed in his Sunday afternoon grab of light blue cardigan and open necked snirt. the normally dapper Samaranch was unable to suppress a grin as he related a Japanese newspaper report that he had thrown a massive party at the end of last year's Nagano Winter Games with geishers and so on.

First of all. I was with ray

wife. Second, geishers at my age ? ’’No," said the 78-year-old Spaniard. "There are so many silly things." he added. "Who produces all this nonsense?"

Samaranch said the IOC panel investigating members caught up in the bribery dragnet could only deal with facts, not rumours.

"If someone says an IOC member is this or that, please tell us the name and give us the proof. Then we can act. With

rumours, we cannot act. We have shown the world that when we have facts we act very quickly."

Five IOC members face expulsion in March for accepting cash or expensive gifts during Salt Lake City's successful bid for the 2002 Winter Games.

Four others have already resigned and three are still under investigation.

. The fallout from the Salt Lake scandal has also threatened to engulf Sydney, hosts of next year’s Summer Olympics, and Nagano.

Faced with global criticism from • outside the Olympic movement. Samaranch has chosen to put his job on the line by seeking a Vote of confidence from the full IOC membership

of 111 at a special meeting in Lausanne on .March 17 and 18.

The same meeting will also rule on the expulsions recommended by the executive board.

Asked whether he was confident he would keep the Job he has held for 18 years, Samaranch said he had received phone calls and letters of support from IOC members, but would not predict the outcome of the vote.

But he was sure that the rank and file IOC members would adopt the expulsion recommendations of the executive board.

Two of the five provisionally’ Suspended last weekend, Jean-Claude Ganga of the Congo and Augustin Arroyo from Ecuador, have said they will fight for reinstatement.

Some IOC members have suggested that the timing of the Salt Lake affair could be related to a power struggle to find a successor when Samaranch goes.

Asked whether he subscribed to this theory, the IOC president sidestepped the issue and said "I Understand that may be some people are very tired of seeing me as president after 18 years, may be some people outside the IOC.

"1 know many IOC members are interested in being a candidates in the next elections (presently scheduled for 2001). It is normal for an IOC member to have the ambition to become president of the IOC.

Executive board member Kevan Gosper of Australia stressed that the executive unanimously supported Samaranch and added "every indication-we get from the membership indicates support for the president."' •' ■ '

Both Samaranch and GoSper were intent on putting a positive spin on the doping conference. although sources said there had been an unsuccessful attempt to get it postponed because of distractions caused by the corruption scandal.