Full coverage: 2016 Rio Olympics

A Brazilian judge has ordered the release of a high-ranking IOC member who was arrested during the Rio Games in a ticket-scalping probe. Patrick Hickey must though remain in Brazil and hand over his passport, judge Fernando Antonio de Almeida says there is no indication that the 71-year-old could pose a risk to the public or obstruct the investigation.

He was released due to ill health, and is highest-profile suspect in an alleged scam to illegally sell tickets to this month's Rio Olympic Games at an incredible mark-up. Prosecutors estimated the profits from the black market sales at three-million dollars.

Hickey is an International Olympic Committee member and the head of the Olympic Council of Ireland and the European Olympic Committees. He was arrested August 17 at a luxury Rio hotel where he was staying with other IOC members.

The Olympic Council of Ireland said earlier this month that Hickey decided to "step aside temporarily" as an IOC member and from all his other Olympic positions "until this matter is fully resolved."