The former CEO of World Sailing has claimed that he was ousted from his post for repeatedly suggesting that Guanabara Bay, the future site of sailing events in the 2016 Rio de Janeiro Olympics, was too polluted for competition.

As The Associated Press reports, Peter Sowrey said he attempted to change the venue but was instructed to back off.

"I was told to gag myself on the subject," Sowrey said.

The newly appointed CEO of World Sailing, Andy Hunt, said that the sailing event was still set to take place in Guanabara Bay this August.

The bay, which is overlooked by the famous Christ the Redeemer monument, is heavily polluted with a wide array of waste that includes everything from plastic bags to animal carcasses.

Before leaving office, Sowrey suggested that the sailing competition should be moved to Buzios, a coastal resort area located about 100 miles from Rio de Janeiro.

Sowrey said he had little experience dealing with the kind of politics that motivate international sports federations.

"The board felt I was way too aggressive," Sowrey said. "They basically voted me out. I didn't resign. The board finally told me to leave."

About 1,600 athletes will compete in the upcoming Summer Olympics. Experts have warned that those participating in events in the bay could be subjected to dangerous health risks due to the pollution in the water.

According to John Griffith, a marine biologist at the Southern California Coastal Water Research Project, the water in Guanabara Bay is essentially raw sewage.

As quoted in The Guardian, Griffith said, “It’s all the water from the toilets and the showers and whatever people put down their sinks, all mixed up, and it’s going out into the beach waters.”

Still, Hunt explained that even if Guanabara Bay is not an ideal spot for the event, officials are still committing serious thought to the safety of the athletes.

"For one moment I'm not saying it's ideal, but I do think there's a huge amount of effort and attention going into this to ensure the safety of the athletes," he said, according to The AP.

Pollution in the water is not the only problem Brazil is facing with the upcoming games.

As previously reported, the Brazilian government has recently announced the measures they will take to guard athletes and attendees against the Zika virus, which has resulted in thousands of babies being born with birth defects.

Officials will start by inspecting the Olympic facilities for breeding grounds where mosquitoes, which carry the virus, might thrive. Once the games commence, there will be sweeps to counter the insects on a daily basis. Due to the dangers that pesticides might pose to athletes and spectators alike, fumigation will only happen on a case-by-case basis.

Related