MONTREAL – Former freestyle skier Jean-Luc Brassard resigned as chef de mission for Canada’s 2016 Olympic team because he felt he no longer had the full support of the Canadian Olympic Committee.
A COC statement on Monday cited “personal and professional” reasons for his resignation.
READ MORE: Jean-Luc Brassard quits as Canada’s chef de mission for Rio, replaced by Harnett
The Olympic champion had questioned the committee’s handling of the sexual harassment allegations that led to the resignation of former COC president Marcel Aubut in October.
He said his concerns about the case caused friction with some committee members, including what he called a personality conflict with a leading executive, whom he did not name.
Brassard felt he could not continue as chef de mission of this summer’s Rio Games without their full confidence and opted to resign.
He submitted his resignation last week but the announcement was made Monday to avoid disturbing swimmers during their Olympic trials on the weekend.
Comments