Image copyright
Reuters
Carlos Nuzman served as president of the Rio 2016 Olympics organising committee
Brazilian police have detained the head of the country’s Olympic committee in Rio de Janeiro.
Carlos Nuzman has been investigated as part of a cash-for-votes probe after the bid for the Rio 2016 Olympics was won.
The arrest is part of the corruption investigation, known as Operation Unfair Play.
Mr Nuzman has previously denied all wrongdoing.
Leonardo Gryner, the committee’s director general, was also arrested, according to Brazilian media.
The inquiry is being conducted in conjunction with French and US police.
In September, Mr Nuzman’s home was searched. He was questioned and had his passport seized.
Brazilian prosecutors believe he acted as an intermediary in an alleged $2m (£1.5m) payment to Papa Massata Diack, the son of an influential Senegalese member of the International Olympic Committee (IOC).
It is alleged that this was done to secure the vote of Lamine Diack, who was then serving as the head of the International Association of Athletic Federations (IAAF).
All parties have denied the allegations.
On hearing of Mr Nuzman’s arrest, the IOC released a statement offering the Brazilian authorities its co-operation. “The IOC’s chief ethics and compliance officer has asked the Brazilian authorities for full information in order to proceed with the IOC’s investigation,” it said.
“[The IOC] also reiterates that the presumption of innocence prevails,” it added.
Image copyright
Reuters
Carlos Nuzman (second from left) was led away for police questioning in September
Mr Nuzman, 72, has led the committee since 1995 and headed Rio’s successful bid to host the 2016 Games.
A statement from Mr Nuzman’s lawyer, released last month, read: “The entire journey of the Rio Olympics, from the bid to the closing ceremony, was conducted within the law.”
In June, former Rio State Governor Sergio Cabral was jailed for 14 years after participating in the embezzlement of $64m from construction contracts, including the renovation of Rio’s Maracana stadium, where the 2016 opening and closing ceremonies were held.
French prosecutors announced last year that they were widening their investigation into corruption in athletics to include the bidding-and-voting processes for the hosting of the 2016 and 2020 Olympics.
