COC head Marcel Aubut steps aside after sex harassment complaint

Marcel Aubut, the head of the Canadian Olympic Committee, has stepped asidefollowing an allegation that he sexuallyharassed a female colleague.

Sources tell CBC News that the complaint relates to repeated verbal comments directed at the woman, who has hired a lawyer.

The complaintasks the organization to take immediate steps to deal with the situation.

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Aubut, 67, issued a statement Wednesday night in which he promises to co-operate fully with those responsible for investigating the remarksattributed to him and "setting the record straight."

The statement also saysAubut"never intended to offend or upset anyone by anything he might have said in the performance of his duties."

In a statement, the COC said it had received a formal complaint against Aubut on Sept. 25. The COC says it has retainedFranois Rolland, former chief justice of the Quebec Superior Court, as an independent investigator.

"Mr. Aubut has requested, and the Canadian Olympic Committee has agreed, that he step away from his duties as Canadian Olympic Committee president and Canadian Olympic Foundation chairman for the duration of the investigation," the COC said in the statement.

"He has indicated that he will co-operate fully with the investigation, which, by its nature is confidential, out of respect for the parties."

Aubut, theformer president and owner of the Quebec Nordiques NHL franchise,has been the president of the COC since 2010.