Irish mixed martial arts star Conor McGregor has been taken into police custody in Corsica on suspicion of attempted sexual assault and indecent exposure, the prosecutor’s office said on Saturday.

“Following a complaint filed on September 10 denouncing acts that could be described as attempted sexual assault and sexual exhibition, Mr. Conor Anthony Mac Gregor was the subject of a hearing by the gendarmerie services,” wrote the prosecutor’s office in a statement sent to AFP. 

A spokesman for McGregor sent a statement from the United States saying he “vigorously denied any accusation of bad behaviour”.

McGregor, known as ‘Notorious’, has been holidaying in the south of France and was in Corsica preparing for a 180km water-bike relay race from Calvi to Monaco.

He led a four-member ‘Team Notorious’ against defending champions ‘Team Serenity’ headed by Princess Charlene of Monaco.