DUBLIN: Patrick Hickey, who remains ‘provisionally suspended’ by the International Olympic Committee, has taken a step towards rehabilitation over Rio 2016 ticketing allegations which he has always denied.

Hicke, former chairman of the Irish Olympic Committee and the Association of European Olympic Committees, has been cleared reportedly by an Irish investigation into the issue.

Formal publication of a 226-page report from a commission of inquiry is expected next week but appears to have been leaked to the Irish Independent.

Hickey is acknowleded as innocent of suspicions of corruption and illegal ticket sales over which he was arrested by Brazilian police during the Gamesin his hotel room in Rio de Janeiro,

Hickey was detained in prison then under house arrest for seven months before funds from IOC-linked sources provided a bail bond.

However the investigation report is apparently critical of the management of the Irish Olympic Committee and Hickey’s close ties with the THG sports ticketing company.

The report suggests that under Hickey, the Irish Olympic Committee was “more concerned with its business interests than with its role of supporting and accompanying the Olympic team. ”

############