he International Olympic Committee's ethics commission concluded yesterday that NYC2012 broke no rules in its proposal to offer free marketing assistance to international sports federations should it win the right to hold the 2012 Olympics.

The leaders of New York's bid were informed of the I.O.C. decision by fax, ending a three-day inquiry into a proposal that Deputy Mayor Daniel L. Doctoroff unveiled Sunday during a presentation in Berlin. The ethics commission has not ruled on incentives offered by London at the same meeting.

"Obviously it's critical that it is recognized within the I.O.C. that what we offered is a central part of our bid and that it is completely within the rules," Doctoroff said in a telephone interview yesterday after he had received the fax.

New York and London drew the I.O.C.'s attention last weekend after the five finalists for the 2012 Olympics - New York, Paris, London, Madrid and Moscow - gave presentations to a gathering of sports federation leaders. It was one of the last large gatherings before the 2012 host city is chosen by the 117-member I.O.C. on July 6.

New York proposed a marketing council to help international federations market their sports in the United States during the seven years leading up to the 2012 Games. London unveiled a similar proposal and then issued a news release Monday with further details: $20 million in subsidies for training and marketing - including $50,000 for each federation - as well as free flights and train travel for athletes and sports federation members and $100 phone cards for athletes.

Both cities have been trying to close a gap between them and the perceived favorite, Paris.

After hearing the proposals, the I.O.C.'s president, Dr. Jacques Rogge, warned the five cities against starting a bidding war, and the chairwoman of the ethics commission, Pâquerette Girard Zappelli, called representatives from the five cities to a meeting to speak about the issue. The I.O.C. has been sensitive to excesses in the bidding process, which is being conducted under rules that were put into place after the Salt Lake City scandal revealed the old system was awash in bribery and special favors to committee members.

Under the new rules, cities are not supposed to add inducements once they have submitted bid books and detailed their plans during the evaluation commission's site visit.

The I.O.C. concluded that the creation of a sports marketing council had been developed during the evaluation commission's visit to New York in February. "The I.O.C. therefore considers this matter to be closed," read the I.O.C. fax, which was signed by Gilbert Felli, the executive director of the Olympic Games.

London bid officials said they did not expect a decision on their case until next week. If the I.O.C. decides on sanctions, it could force London to retract its offer.

Doctoroff said he was pleased with how the Berlin presentation went, despite the inquiry.

The rollout of the marketing council was planned for Berlin to appeal to the sports federation leaders gathered there. N.B.A. Commissioner David Stern has agreed to be the chairman of the council.

"We think it adds great value to the international federations and shows our commitment to real partnership with these sports," Doctoroff said.

New York's bid has one more major hurdle to clear before the July 6 vote, approval of a stadium on Manhattan's Far West Side as its Olympic centerpiece. Doctoroff continued to express confidence that the Public Authorities Control Board would give final approval at its meeting on May 18. The three-member board - appointed by Gov. George E. Pataki, Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver and Joseph L. Bruno, the Senate majority leader - controls the fate of the stadium, unless one of several lawsuits thwarts construction.