Olympic silver medallist Sonia O'Sullivan fears the Rio 2016 ticket scandal that has engulfed the OCI could overshadow Irish sport for several years ©Getty Images

Former world champion Sonia O'Sullivan has admitted she does not know if she will stay on the Olympic Council of Ireland (OCI) Board following the ticketing scandal at Rio 2016.

OCI President Patrick Hickey was formally charged by a Brazilian judge last Friday (September 9) in relation to alleged ticket touting.

He had been arrested during the Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro on August 17.

Nine others, including Irishman Kevin Mallon from British company THG Sports, also face charges including criminal organisation, ticket touting, ambush marketing, larceny, money laundering, and tax evasion.

Hickey has claimed he is innocent and that he plans to fight all the charges.

O'Sullivan, the 1995 world 5,000 metres champion, claimed that tickets were never spoken about any meetings of the OCI Board.

"We never discussed buying and selling tickets, as the Olympic Council of Ireland, so we need to know the answers as well," O'Sullivan, Ireland's Chef de Mission at London 2012, told RTÉ Radio One. 

Sonia O'Sullivan, pictured right, has admitted she will review her position on the Olympic Council of Ireland Board following the arrest in Brazil of its President Patrick Hickey, right ©Getty Images
Sonia O'Sullivan, pictured right, has admitted she will review her position on the Olympic Council of Ireland Board following the arrest in Brazil of its President Patrick Hickey, right ©Getty Images

O'Sullivan, 46, fears that the issue could dominate Irish sport for several years and could even affect the team's build-up to the 2020 Olympic Games in Tokyo.

"As part of the Board, you feel responsible, so you have to stay there and help to find the answers and hopefully move the Olympic Council of Ireland onto bigger and better things," she said.

"You don't want it to drag on for another few years because before you know it we'll be looking at the Olympics in Tokyo.

"This is going to be a huge distraction for the athletes if it drags on.

"There'll be a lot of uncertainty amongst all the Federations in Ireland."

O'Sullivan, winner of an Olympic silver medal in the 5,000m at Sydney 2000, admitted she did not know if she would remain a member of the OCI Board.

"Am I happy to be a member?" she admitted when asked by RTÉ Radio One.

"That’s quite a difficult question to answer because when I came on board with the OCI it was a link for me to continue to be involved with athletes and continue to be involved with the Olympic Games."