RIO DE JANEIRO (AP) – Brazilian police say International Olympic Committee executive Patrick Hickey has been transferred to prison while under investigation in a ticket scalping scandal.
The Rio force says Hickey’s legal team unsuccessfully claimed that the Irishman was being illegally detained following his early-morning arrest at his hotel at the Rio Olympics on Wednesday.
Police only began questioning the 71-year-old Hickey on Thursday after he was hospitalized for a day with chest pains following his arrest.
A police statement says Hickey has now been transferred to Bangu prison in Rio.
Hickey has temporarily stepped aside from his IOC roles, including sitting on the executive board and heading the European Olympic body.
