A volleyball coach who worked as a referee at the Rio Olympics has been arrested for raping teenage boys.

Andre Wilson Testa, 31, has been accused of multiple rapes after his alleged victims – reportedly minors at the time – came forward.

The charismatic coach was arrested in Florianopolis, the capital of southern Brazil’s Santa Catarina state, on the afternoon of Thursday, 4th August, according to local media.

Testa is alleged to have plied victims with alcohol before raping them.

All the victims were aged 15 to 17 and most come from low-income families, according to local media.

One claims the coach got him drunk before taking him to a motel.

The investigation is being led by child abuse specialist Marcela Goto, head of the DPCAMI (the Delegation for the Protection of Children, Adolescents, Women and the Elderly of Sao Jose).

Testa has been charged with multiple counts of raping a vulnerable person, sexual harassment, and violations of child protection rules.

He is also facing charges of supplying alcohol to minors.

Goto told local media that Judge Janiara Maldaner Corbetta agreed to remand Testa in jail after he tried to influence victims and witnesses.

She said that when alleged victims would mention other victims in their statements, Testa would try to coerce the new victims.

Goto said: “What we do know is that he was trying to warn, demand, coerce other people.”

She added: “The reports are very strong, they are very consistent, there are many accusations. Testimonials are crucial. What they tell is very strong.”

The cases date back at least to 2017.

The investigation is ongoing to determine whether or not Testa acted alone.

Goto hopes that increased visibility of the case will encourage other victims to come forward.