TOKYO, Jan. 22 (Xinhua) -- Japanese Olympic Committee (JOC) President Tsunekazu Takeda, recently caught up in a bribery scandal and under investigation by French authorities, said Tuesday that he will fight the allegations related to Tokyo's successful bid to host the 2020 Games, local media reported Tuesday.
"From now on, I will follow procedures and solemnly work to clear suspicion," Takeda said at a JOC board meeting in Tokyo on Tuesday, apologizing for causing the trouble.
Takeda maintained his innocence in a press conference on the matter last week, denying allegations related to a two-million-U.S.-dollar payment made in 2013 to Singapore-based consultancy firm Black Tidings headed by Tan Tong Han.
Tan is known to have a close relationship with Papa Massata Diack, a son of Senegalese businessman Lamine Diack, a powerful member of the International Olympic Committee at the time.
It was suspected that the bribery paid by Japan's bid committee went to the son.
The JOC chief admitted to signing off on the payment, but maintained the paperwork and those involved in the deal were all above board and that he himself was distanced from the payment.
The corruption scandal has shocked Japan's sporting world 18 months before the Tokyo Games are to be held.
While a Japanese probe into the matter has concluded there was no wrongdoing on Takeda's part after the allegation of corruption came to light in 2016, a probe by French authorities is still ongoing.
