Arrested Irish Olympic official Pat Hickey has been released from hospital to be questioned at a Rio police station over allegations of illegal ticket sales.
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“In light of this morning’s developments and his ill health, Mr Hickey has taken the decision to step aside temporarily as President of the OCI and all other Olympic functions (IOC member in Ireland, European Olympic Committee President, Association of National Olympic Committees Vice President) until this matter is fully resolved”, the OCI said in a brief statement.
Patrick Hickey was taken straight to a police station following his discharge from hospital today 24 hours after he was charged for alleged involvement in an Irish ticketing scandal.
Brazilian investigators have accused Hickey of conspiracy, ticket scalping and ambush marketing as part of a scheme to sell tickets on the black market.
Mr Ross said that the situation had moved a long way since his meeting with Mr Hickey on Monday.
The council says they can not confirm whether Mr Hickey has been denied bail, and are working to confirm media reports that he is being kept in custody in Rio.
The IOC told AP that it has stopped Hickey’s $900-a-day per diem.
International Olympic Committee officials condemned Rio police for allowing a TV crew to accompany them as a naked Hickey was arrested in a hotel room.
International Olympic Committee member Dick Pound expressed surprise at the “theater” involved in the police actions.
“It makes it look like all sports administrators are corrupt – they’re not, ” he told Associated Press.
“There’s a big risk for them if they’ve got it wrong”.
It follows the arrest of Irishman Kevin James Mallon and interpreter Barbara Carnieri earlier this month, for allegedly being in possession of over 1,000 tickets for the Olympic Games that they were not authorised to sell. “THG wishes to make clear that it would very much welcome such an inquiry and pledges to provide full cooperation in the strong belief that it can demonstrate that the company has acted lawfully at all times”, read a statement from the agency.
Ticketing company Pro10 has said it fully supports calls for a “judge-led inquiry” into the sale of tickets for the Rio Olympics.
After describing the police raid on Hickey’s hotel room as an “affront”, IOC Vice President John Coates defended his colleague.
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“I think the members are all very anxious about his well-being and the prospect of him being incarcerated”.
