Japan Olympic boss Takeda vows to clear name amid corruption probe

Tsunekazu Takeda, the head of the Japanese Olympic Committee and a powerful IOC member, has denied corruption allegations against him concerning reported bribes paid to be awarded the rights to host the 2020 Olympics.

A French prosecutor is investigating Takeda, who is reportedly linked to about 2 million US dollars in payments in 2013 before and after the IOC picked Tokyo ahead of Madrid and Istanbul to stage the games.

Tsunekazu Takeda, the head of the Japanese Olympic Committee and a powerful IOC member, has denied corruption allegations against him concerning reported bribes paid to be awarded the rights to host the 2020 Olympics. [Photo: AP]

The brewing scandal is a major blow to Tokyo's preparations, which IOC President Thomas Bach has called "the best" in Olympic history.

The Tokyo Olympics open in 18 months with Japan spending at least 20 billion US dollars to prepare.

At a packed news conference Tuesday at the JOC's office, Takeda said little in a brief seven-minute statement.

Dressed in a dark suit, Takeda did not take questions and said: "I'd like to clear the allegation against me, and I will cooperate fully with French authorities."

The International Olympic Committee has backed Takeda and says he has the presumption of innocence.

He testified with an IOC ethics commission on Friday. The IOC has not commented on details.

The 2016 Rio de Janeiro Olympics were also sullied by corruption scandals. Carlos Nuzman, the head of those games, resigned afterward accused of vote-buying.

There was some speculation Takeda might use his brief address to step aside, at least temporarily.