Vazquez Rana resigns Olympics positions

LAUSANNE, Switzerland (AP) — Veteran Olympic official Mario Vazquez Rana is resigning all of his positions, including a seat on the IOC Executive Board.

The Mexican official says in a resignation letter that it was “very difficult for me to take such a drastic decision.”

Vazquez Rana celebrates his 80th birthday in June and is required by IOC age rules to give up his membership this year.

Vazquez Rana did not attend meetings of the IOC executive leadership in Lausanne this week.

He is also giving up the presidency of the Olympic Solidarity Commission, which allocates grants to help athletes from smaller nations compete at the games.

Vazquez Rana was the founder and president of the 204-member Association of National Olympic Committees.