RIO DE JANEIRO (AP) — Carlos Nuzman sent his resignation letter as head of the Brazilian Olympic Committee from a prison on Wednesday.
He’s been held there since last week amid an investigation into a vote-buying scheme to bring the 2016 Olympics to Rio de Janeiro.
The National Olympic Committee immediately designated vice president Paulo Wanderley to replace Nuzman, who had headed the BOC for 22 years. Wanderley will serve the three years remaining on Nuzman’s term.
Speaking after meeting with the BOC’s membership, Wanderley described Nuzman’s resignation as “a relief.”
“The resignation of the president, on a personal level, I think will speed up resolving our problems,” he said.