The official spent five years as the President of the COB from 1990 to 1995 before continuing to serve as a vice-president under Carlos Nuzman until 2016.

He stepped-down months before Nuzman was forced to resign amid a criminal investigation surrounding Rio de Janeiro's bid for the Olympic Games in 2009.

Richer was himself investigated by the Federal Police in connection with the investigation and, according to O'Globo, a search of his apartment last year uncovered "ammunition, gold watches and a sum of money".

Richer was also President of Brazilian football giants Flamengo from 1969 to 1973 and later served as a director of the Brazilian Football Confederation (CBF) from 1975 to 1986.

The former rower, who competed at the 1956 Olympic Games in Melbourne, was also Chef de Mission for Brazilian Olympic teams at Moscow 1980, Los Angeles 1984 and Seoul 1988.

Paolo Wanderley, who himself replaced Nuzman as COB President last year, is among those to have paid tribute to Richer.

"Brazilian sport has lost someone who was an important collaborator," he said.

"Richer had a life entirely dedicated to the sport. 

"A born leader since the times of Olympic athlete, he dedicated his time and enormous energy to the development of the Brazilian sport, assuming positions of leadership in both CBF and COB."