Scandal official Patrick Hickey leaves the International Olympic Committee.
The Irishman, who had already suspended his IOC membership for six years, is finally giving up his place in the Rings circle due to health reasons.
This was announced by an IOC spokesman. The 77-year-old is accused of involvement in a black market ticket sale worth around ten million US dollars on the sidelines of the Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro. Hickey had denied this.
Because of the affair, he had already resigned from the Executive Committee of the IOC in 2017. Hickey is said to have given the Irish Olympic Committee tickets for the Rio Games to a ticket company at an overpriced price, thereby enriching himself.
Hickey was arrested in Rio in the summer of 2016, but was released after almost two weeks and had to hand in his passport. The Brazilian judiciary finally approved his departure on bail for reasons of illness.
The case has not yet been heard by a Brazilian court. It is increasingly unlikely that this will happen.