Pat Hickey will not return to his position as President of the European Olympic Committees (EOC), according to the organisation's acting President Janez Kocijancic.
Kocijancic made the revelation to Inside The Games this week. The Slovenian, who has been the head of EOC since Hickey temporarily suspended himself, confirmed that he would be putting himself forward as a candidate for the Presidential election, which is scheduled to take place later this year.
Hickey's latest four-year term is due to conclude at the EOC General Assembly, which is expected to take place towards the end of November.
Kocijancic however, says the EOC suspects that legal proceedings against Hickey for ticketing offences at the Rio Olympics, might not be completed in time, which means that a new President is likely to be elected.
He added that Hickey could return to the EOC in the future, and said the Irish man still has the support of the organisation.
"We consider, as we said on several occasions, that he is not guilty of the criminal offences he is accused of. We hope he will be able to prove it in the legal procedure, which is happening in Brazil," he added.
Among the charges that have been placed against Hickey include: criminal organisation, ticket touting, ambush marketing, larceny, money laundering and tax evasion.
Hickey denies all charges.
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