RIO DE JANEIRO: Carlos Nuzman has resigned as president of the Brazilian Olympic Committee after his re-arrest last week on corruption and vote-rigging charges linked to the Rio 2016 hoist award by the IOC writes KEIR RADNEDGE.

The Brazilian NOC was suspended by the International Olympic Committee after allegations that Nuzman had facilitated payments to voting members ahead of the ballot in Copenhagen in 2009 when Rio became the first South American city to land the Games.

Nuzman, 75, has also resigned as president of the Rio 2016 organising committee which raises further doubts about whether the operation will ever be able to pay off its debts. This could lead to creditors claiming against the IOC itself.

The former lawyer has also been removed by the IOC from membership of the coordination commission for the Tokyo 2020 Games.

Nuzman has announced his resignation in a letter to other members of the COB, saying he wants to devote himself full time to his defence.

Investigators have discovered that Nuzman had 16 gold bullion (worth €560,000) stashed in a Swiss bank.

The latest IOC corruption scandal has sparked calls for reforms of the selection and appointment of members.

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