Gosper believes he has the pedigree to do that – his father Kevan, a former 400 meters runner turned sports administrator, is an honorary member of the International Olympic Committee.

Gosper adds. “It’s Japan next, you’ve got the bidders for 2023, then there’s potential in the US, Argentina’s putting its hands up. And I’m sure the long-term ambition is that for China.

Gosper insisted yesterday, during the Rugby World Cup opening press conference in Tokyo, that the governing body’s drug-testing programme and anti-doping policies were effective.

Gosper served on the IOC Executive Board for 17 years through 2003, including two stints as a vice president. He was IOC chairman of the Press Commission from 1989 to 2013.

Mr Gosper said he was surprised, in one respect, that the Commonwealth Games organisers didn't even "couch" the clauses in security terms, as might usually be done.

Gosper, an IOC member since 1977, was a founding member of the IOC's ethics commission but resigned from the panel this year after he came under investigation in the bribery scandal surrounding ...

Gosper came into the role in 2012 and World Rugby, in its announcement of his departure, hailed Gosper's impact on the sport, including "overseeing record participation and audience growth ...

Kevan Gosper represented his country at the Olympics as both an athlete and one of the masterminds of Sydney 2000, branded the 'best Games ever' by the head of the IOC.