Police in Brazil have arrested the head of the European Olympic Committees, Irishman Patrick Hickey, in Rio over illegal Olympic ticket sales, BBC reports.
Mr Hickey, 71, is suspected of illegally passing on tickets for the Games to be sold on at extortionate prices, Brazilian media report.
Mr Hickey, said to be unwell after his arrest, has not yet commented publicly.
Police say the suspect, who also heads the Olympic Council of Ireland (OCI), tried to escape when they came for him.
They say he slid his Olympic pass under the door when police came knocking and fled into the adjacent hotel room, where his son had been staying until recently.
After he was arrested he was taken ill and received medical attention, reports say.
Brazilian media believe Mr Hickey’s arrest is related to that of fellow Irishman Kevin James Mallon on the day of the Olympic opening ceremony.
The OCI said in a statement it was “aware of the media stories regarding Pat Hickey and we are seeking total clarity on the situation before we comment further”.
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