OCI claims it was never 'requested or required' to put up Pat Hickey's bail bond

This week it emerged that the Association of National Olympic Committees (ANOC) had loaned the former OCI president the R$1.5m (€410,000) required so that his passport can be returned.

Mr Hickey has remained in Brazil since his arrest during the Rio de Janeiro Olympics for alleged ticket touting.

Last month a judge granted him permission to return to Ireland for health reasons.

A number of conditions were placed on his return, including the bail bond.

Now the OCI, tweeting as Team Ireland, has denied that it was involved in the negotiations surrounding this.

It was previously reported that the OCI had refused to pay the bail bond.

They wrote: "To be clear the OCI were never requested or required to put up Pat Hickey's bail bond."

The OCI is currently paying Mr Hickey's legal fees, as mandated by the body's constitution. They are also paying his rental costs while he is based in Brazil.