The bid officials stood accused of influencing IOC members who awarded them the 2002 Winter Olympics.

The ruling confirmed charges of mail, wire and honest-services fraud against bid leader Tom Welch and his deputy Dave Johnson.

US magistrate Ronald Boyce previously upheld conspiracy and racketeering charges.

The rulings are only recommendations to the trial judge - but these are usually accepted.

A charge of bribery conspiracy, accusing Welch and Johnson of 92 acts of alleged bribery, has already been upheld.

The bribery is said to range from handing out scholarships to children of IOC members to giving one IOC member a dog.

Welch and Johnson are accused of giving IOC members with $1m (�710,000) in cash and perks.

Lavished

In their defence, Welch and Johnson say they had no choice but to give favours to IOC members and that the practice is not criminal.

They also say that bid cities cannot know how IOC members cast their secret votes.