International Olympic Committee president Jacques Rogge has welcomed the voluntary resignation of Kim Un-yong from the IOC vice- presidency.

The Associated Press quoted Rogge as saying Wednesday in his first official response to the news that although the IOC general assembly has always reached fair decisions, it would be better to avoid having to discharge one of its own members.

Rogge also expressed hope that Bulgarian Ivan Slakvov, who faces likely expulsion from the IOC, would assume responsibility for his own deeds and voluntarily step down before the general assembly convenes.

IOC officials earlier reported that the 74-year-old Kim, currently behind bars after being convicted of embezzlement, had informed the committee of his decision to resign.

Kim was a longtime IOC member and once the most powerful figure in South Korean sports.

IOC members had been due to vote on his expulsion at their session in July.