Official at centre of Olympics boxing gender row was Keir Starmer’s best man

Mr Adams, a former broadcast journalist, joined the IOC as its director of communications in 2009.

He worked at the BBC, ITN and EuroNews before spending 10 years in a senior communications role for the World Economic Forum

Like Sir Keir, who has a season ticket at the Emirates Stadium, Mr Adams is a lifelong fan of Arsenal Football Club.

Speaking to Tom Baldwin, Sir Keir’s biographer, in May, Mr Adams said: “Keir’s a regular bloke who has always liked a pint or two, talking nonsense with his mates and playing far more football than is good for him.

“It’s how he plugs back into his private network and recharges himself.”

In a separate profile of the Prime Minister in The Times, Mr Adams said he often teases Sir Keir about how he is becoming more like his late father Rodney, adding: “Keir hates it when I do that.”

Mr Adams attended Reigate Grammar School in the 1970s alongside Sir Keir and fondly recalled his time at the school on social media.

Everything to the nth degree

Mr Adams has lived in Lausanne ever since he began his role with the IOC, having lived and worked in Geneva during his time at the World Economic Forum.

In a 2020 profile of Sir Keir in the Financial Times, Mr Adams described him as a perfectionist “does everything to the nth degree”.

He recalled: “I once asked him why he gave up playing the flute and he said, ‘If I can’t practise every day, I can’t be top level, so I don’t want to do it’.

“As a lawyer, he would work on cases until 3am and get up at 7am and feel fine. He is someone who works like a dog but also has a forensic intellect.”

In February, Mr Adams was among guests including Sean Dyche, the Everton manager, at a drinks party for senior sport figures held by Sir Keir, who reportedly namechecked his old school friend in his speech.