The OCI unanimously voted at its meeting in Dublin not to allow the return of its former President following the ticketing controversy at last year's Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro. 

The 73-year-old Hickey is currently self-suspended as a member of the IOC but if he was to return, under the rules of the Olympic Charter, he would be able to resume a position as an ex-officio member of the OCI, although he would not have any voting rights.

He was President of the OCI from 1989 until he stood down last year and was replaced by Sarah Keane. 

The OCI Board meeting agreed to officially forward a copy of Justice Carroll Moran’s report into the Rio 2016 ticketing scandal to the IOC Ethics Commission.

"The Board is aware that the IOC Ethics Commission is carrying out an investigation into the situation regarding the former OCI President," they said in a statement.

"Tonight the Board agreed to fully cooperate with that investigation and to share and provide requested information and documentation to the Commission, including the Moran Report. 

"We expect that this process may take some time to reach a conclusion. 

"Nonetheless the Board tonight unanimously agreed that it would not accept the return of the former President to the OCI Board."

The six-hour meeting, which finished after midnight, was the first to be held since the publication of the Moran Report earlier this month.

The report cleared Hickey of any criminal wrongdoing.

The 226-page document alleged, however, that there was a "failure by so many principal participants" to cooperate with the inquiry, including Hickey, the IOC and Rio 2016.

Hickey claimed that he was told not to help with the investigation pending the outcome of Brazilian proceedings against him and that the Moran Report contained "significant inaccuracies".

The OCI Board also decided that, following the decision by Pyeongchang 2018 to terminate the OCI's authorised ticket reseller (ATR) arrangements following the controversy at Rio 2016, they would handle ticketing arrangements for next year's Winter Olympics themselves. 

Ireland, however, is expected to have a small team of between five and 10 athletes competing at Pyeongchang 2018 and demand for tickets will be low. 

The OCI claimed on legal advice it could not discuss any ATR deal for Tokyo 2020 or beyond.

It has been reported that HIckey signed a contract with THG, the company owned by Marcus Evans at the centre of the ticketing scandal, until 2026. 

"The Board is eager to move forward, to take the learnings from the past and to focus its time and energy on implementing its reform agenda and concentrating on athletes, their families, coaches, and member federations to ensure that it delivers for them in their pursuit of the Olympic dream and ideals," said the OCI statement.