Romario seeks probe into Nuzman

‘Del Nero a cancer on the game’

In this Aug 7, 2016 file photo, United States swimmer Michael Phelps encourages his teammates in the final of the men’s 4x100-meter freestyle relay during the swimming competitions at the 2016 Summer Olympics in

Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. (AP)

RIO DE JANEIRO, Sept 20, (AP): Brazilian Senator Romario de Souza Faria, the star of Brazil’s 1994 World Cup winning team, hopes to open a congressional investigation into Carlos Nuzman, who headed the local organizing committee of last year’s Rio de Janeiro Olympics.

Nuzman, an honorary IOC member, was held for questioning earlier this month by Brazilian and French authorities in an alleged vote-buying scheme to land the Olympics for Brazil. He has denied any wrongdoing.

Romario’s office told The Associated Press on Tuesday that the former Barcelona star wants to confirm a “preliminary committee of inquiry” by the end of the week.

Two years ago, Romario called the head of the Brazilian soccer confederation — Marco Polo del Nero — before a similar panel looking into corruption in the game in Brazil. He has called Del Nero a “cancer” on the game, although Del Nero continues to head the CBF.

The International Olympic Committee has remained largely silent about Nuzman. It has said it is awaiting word on any charges against the Brazilian, and presumes his innocence.

The 75-year-old Nuzman was detained by police two weeks ago in Rio. French and Brazilian authorities say he is a central figure in channeling $2 million to Lamine Diack through an account held by his son, Papa Massata Diack. The elder Diack is a former IOC member from Senegal who was a force in the IOC African voting bloc when Rio was picked by the IOC in 2009.

Police said they found about Gold medalist Netherlands’ Tom Dumoulin (center), silver medalist Slovenia’s Primoz Roglic (left), and bronze medalist Great Britain’s Chris Froome celebrate on the podium after the men elite individual time trial at the UCI Cycling Road World Championships on Sept 20, in Bergen, Norway. (AFP)