Sowrey, formerly the managing director of business process outsourcing and sales for Accenture, was appointed on July 1.

The Briton replaced Jerome Pels, who resigned in October 2014 following 17 years with the Southampton-based ISAF.

"Although brief, Peter has worked diligently during the five-months tenure as [chief executive] and has now decided to pursue other challenges suited to his background,"" read a statement from the ISAF Executive Committee.

"The Executive Committee wishes Peter luck for the future."

Sowrey, awarded the business development leader of the year award in the United Kingdom is 2011, has also previously worked for Ericsson.

As well as global business experience, Sowrey has also given advisory support to the 5 West team and Alex Thomson Racing.

The ISAF have not announced who will replace Sowrey on a temporary basis. 

The news comes as Guanabara Bay, the site of sailing events for the Rio 2016 Olympic Games, continues to face international criticism over pollution levels on the course, although the ISAF appears to have ended speculation that competition could be moved farther out into cleaner waters away from the coastline.

An ISAF release praising August's test event on the Bay promised how they would continue to monitor water quality and conduct more testing on the Flamengo Beach launching area.

They will also monitor the progress of closing down landfill sites, to increase the numbers of eco-barriers, while working with Rio 2016 on a heavy rainfall contingency plan to ensure a clean and fair field of play.

This came after one of the courses used for the test event was closed during the regatta due to obstacles deposited there after heavy rainfall.

A study conducted earlier this year by the Associated Press reported a "major risk" of athletes contracting illnesses, with at least two sailors having been taken ill during August's test event.

Yesterday, the Associated Press released results of a new round of testing that shows Rio 2016 Olympic waterways are as rife with pathogens far offshore as they are nearer land, where raw sewage flows into them from fetid rivers and storm drains.

It is claimed that means there is no dilution factor in the bay or lagoon where events will take place and no less risk to the health of athletes like sailors competing farther from the shore.



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