IOC DEADLINE FOR IOA: Drop tainted members, hold elections by December 15

The International Olympic Committee has asked the Indian Olympic Association to drop charge-sheeted members by October 31 to enable its return to the Olympic family. According to a letter in NDTV's possession, and addressed to senior IOA officials, including acting president Vijay Kumar Malhotra, the international body wants IOA to hold fresh elections by December 15. If the IOA fails, India could face more punishment.

 

The IOA has been in exile since last December when the IOC's executive board suspended India after Lalit Bhanot, who is facing corruption charges linked to the scandal-hit New Delhi Commonwealth Games in 2010, was elected secretary-general of the IOA. In its latest directive to the IOA, the international body categorically says it will consider India's return "only after tainted members are dropped." (Read: Ethics cannot be compromised in sports administration, says Mahesh Bhupathi)

 

The IOC wants the IOA to amend its constitution so that officials facing criminal or corruption proceedings in court can be kept out of the IOA election process. The IOC has even received support from the Indian sports minister Jitendra Singh, who also wants a 'clean' national Olympic committee. (Read: It will be shame if we can't represent India, says Olympian shooter Joydeep Karmakar)

 

Singh is pushing for a Sports Bill that seeks to limit the age and tenure of sports administrators. The IOC has also spoken on similar lines at it wants age and tenure restrictions on all members and not just the president, secretary and the treasurer. (Related read: VK Malhotra tells IOA to stand united against IOC)

 

The IOC versus IOA stand-off intensified on August 25 when the IOA general body rejected the IOC's demand to include the "chargesheet" clause in its amended constitution. The IOA's general body decided to bar only those who had been convicted and not just charged.

After its executive board meeting in Buenos Aires on Wednesday, the IOC issued a statement saying: "The Executive Board heard a report that the IOA's General Assembly had approved most of the amendments to the IOA's constitution requested by the IOC, but one specific (chargesheet) clause had not been adopted. This clause, which deals specifically with the eligibility of members, is key to the good governance of the NOC and needs to be fully accepted before the suspended IOA can proceed with the elections."

The IOA is reluctant to accept the charge-sheet clause as interpreted by the IOC, saying the law of the land did not stop anyone from contesting elections till he has been found guilty by the court.

Below is the full text of the IOC's letter to IOA:

IOC Letter