U.S. Olympic Committee chief executive Lloyd Ward apologized to his organization for his role in a deal his brother's company was trying to make with the 2003 Pan American Games.

In an e-mail sent after midnight Wednesday to most of the USOC's policy-making executive committee, Ward maintained he did ``nothing wrong'' but acknowledged an ``error in judgment'' and offered his ``extreme regret'' about the situation, the Los Angeles Times reported Thursday.

``Please accept my apology for my part in causing this major distraction,'' the e-mail concluded.

Ward is accused of helping his brother's company try to reach a deal with the Pan Am Games in the Dominican Republic.

A call from The Associated Press on Thursday to Ward's office was not immediately returned.

The USOC's ethics panel is investigating and the executive committee is to meet Jan. 13 to discuss the matter.

The accusations were first reported in the Times, which said Ward directed his staff to help Energy Management Technologies gain a contract to supply power generators for the 2003 Pan Am Games. No deal went through.

Ward's brother, Rubert, is identified on at least two company documents as EMT's president; one of the brothers' childhood friends, Lorenzo Williams, is identified as CEO. Williams told the newspaper that Rubert Ward no longer holds that title with the company.

Ward signed a conflict-of-interest statement in July, in which he did not disclose any affiliation with EMT. Ward has no financial interest in the Detroit-based company.

Ward declined to elaborate on the e-mail in a phone interview with the Times but said, ``I'm not in the mood to continue -- to have this thing continue in the press. The issue is between the ethics committee, the executive committee and me, and it will unfold at the appropriate time.''

Ward was scheduled to travel to Santo Domingo, where the games will be held in August, but was instructed Wednesday not to go, the newspaper reported.

Ward said in the e-mail that he ``simply saw the EMT