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International Olympic Committee (IOC) member Patrick Hickey, arrested in Brazil this week as part of an investigation into illegal ticket sales, has not yet been heard by a judge and should be presumed innocent, IOC President Thomas Bach said on Saturday.
"What we know is that he has not been heard by a judge yet and, more so, the presumption of innocence prevails," Bach told a news conference during the closing weekend of the Rio Games.
"We respect the laws and legal procedures here in Brazil and cannot comment further on this," he said.
Hickey, who temporarily stepped aside as an IOC executive board member, head of the European Olympic Committee and the Olympic Council of Ireland after his arrest, had an appeal for bail denied by a Brazilian judge. He has been taken to Bangu maximum security prison in Rio de Janeiro.
Bach said there would be no disciplinary commission to investigate Hickey because the 71-year-old had temporarily stepped down from his IOC positions as well.
The IOC's commission "is actually in contact with the authorities in Brazil. At this time there is no reason for any action, given that Mr Hickey has suspended himself from any (IOC) activities," the German, who has headed the IOC since 2013, said.
"It took note of this self-suspension and will follow up the case according to the developments."
Hickey was part of the IOC's powerful board and a long-time IOC member but Bach offered little in terms of information regarding specific support for a once high-profile colleague, who sat right behind Bach at the Aug. 5 opening Games ceremony.
Asked whether there was any support for Hickey from the IOC at the moment, Bach merely repeated that he should be presumed innocent.
Hickey was arrested in a dawn raid on his hotel on Wednesday. He was admitted to Samaritano hospital for chest pains after his arrest but released the next day into custody.
He is still listed as an IOC member on the website of the organisation but with two asterisks next to his name denoting self-suspension.
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