Head of Japan’s Olympic committee steps down
Tsunekazu Takeda denies any wrongdoing but is under investigation regarding bidding and voting processes for the 2020 Tokyo Games
Tokyo — Japanese Olympic Committee (JOC) chief Tsunekazu Takeda, who is under investigation for suspected corruption, said on Tuesday he will step down from his position when his term ends in June and resign from the International Olympic Committee (IOC). French prosecutors have questioned Takeda in Paris and placed him under formal investigation in December for suspected corruption in Tokyo’s successful bid to host the 2020 Summer Games. Takeda, who was president of the 2020 bid committee, said during a JOC board of directors meeting in Tokyo he would step down and not seek re-election. At a news conference later on Tuesday, Takeda said: “I don’t believe I’ve done anything illegal.” When asked why he had not resigned with immediate effect, Takeda said: “It pains me to have created such a fuss, but I believe it is my responsibility to serve out the rest of my term.” Takeda has been head of the JOC since 2001 and his resignation leaves a cloud hanging over both the national committee...
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