The 22-year-old welterweight was chosen as Namibia's flag bearer at the opening ceremony of the Rio games. Brazilian police officials have said that Junius attempted to grab and kiss the housekeeper in the Olympic Village and also offered her money for sex. The maid ran away and reported the incident to the police, according to globo.com.

Detective Rodrigo Amorim of Rio's Police said: "I can confirm that a Namibian athlete named Jonas Junias Jonas was arrested this morning on suspicion of attempted rape of a female in the Olympic Village.

Inspector Veloso from Recreio police station stated that unless Junius is bailed, he will be transferred to the high security prison in Bangu later today (8 August).

It was reported by Al Jazeera reporter Gabriel Elizondo, "Police say he tried to force himself on a housekeeper," he tweeted. "Junius is expected to be transferred to Rio's Bangu prison later today," he added.

The Namibian boxer was due to fight France's Hassan Amzile in the men's light welter round of 32 on Thursday 11 August. Previously, Jonas had won the silver medal in the 2014 Commonwealth Games for Men's Light Welterweight. According to the Namibian, Jesse Schickerling, Namibia's head of delegation is currently negotiating for the boxer's release.

He is the second boxer to be arrested on allegations of sexual assault. Another boxer, Hassan Saada from Morocco, was arrested on suspicion of raping two women in a room in the Olympic Village on Friday 5 August.

Saada was jailed for 15 days awaiting an investigation, which effectively rules him out of competing any further at the Olympic Games. After the arrest, prosecutor Carolina Salmomão said it was disrespectul of women, adding: "There are some rumours that there were other cases in the Olympic Village."