DUBLIN/LAUSANNE: Patrick Hickey, the Irish Republic’sĀ former Olympic supremo, has resigned from the International Olympic Committee’s executive board in the ongoing saga of a ticketing scandal at last year’s Rio de Janeiro Games.

The 72-year-old was arrested by Brazilian police during the Games and held in jail. He was eventually released on bail after the Association of National Olympic Committees loaned him the money to allow him to return to Ireland.

He has maintained he is innocent of all charges and apparently wishes to remain in IOC membership.

An IOC spokesman said: “Patrick Hickey has informed the IOC of his resignation as a member of the IOC Executive Board with immediate effect.

“In his resignation letter, Mr Hickey emphasised that he wants to protect the IOC and to ensure that the interests of the National Olympic Committees are represented on the Executive Board.

“He also reiterated his innocence in respect of all charges and confirmed that he hopes to exercise his functions as an IOC member in the future.”

His seat on the board will now be filled by an election during the session in the Peruvian capital.

Hickey, former president of the European Olympic Committees, was charged by Brazilian investigators over an alleged scheme to sell Rio Games tickets illegally.

His trial has been set for late November, Irish media reported last week.

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