Forsee IOC not recognising IOA, request alternative mechanism: Sports Minister Jitendra Singh
The Sports Minister asked suspended IOA president Abhay Singh Chautala to "clean his house" first before training guns at others. He also said that the ministry has requested IOC for an alternative mechanism to be put in place where in Indian sportspersons are allowed to compete in international events under the Indian flag
Sports Minister Jitendra Singh on Friday slammed the diversionary tactics of Indian Olympic Association and said an alternative mechanism needs to be put in place to enable Indian athletes to compete under the national flag in the wake of IOA's reluctance to adhere to IOC's guidelines. (IOC deadline for IOA: drop tainted members)
The Sports Minister asked suspended IOA president Abhay Singh Chautala to "clean his house" first before training guns at others.
Taking a jibe at the Olympic gold medallist shooter Abhinav Bindra's father, A S Bindra, who was arrested in 2009 for alleged financial irregularities, Chautala said "If Bindra feels that chargesheeted people should be stripped of their positions then he should throw his father out of his house or leave his house himself". (Related read)
"Chautala is trying to divert the attention. This is not the time to divert the attention. He should clean his house and bring in good governance and ethics," Jitendra said.
"What I forsee is that the IOC is not going to recognise the IOA. That's why we have requested for an alternative mechanism to be put in place where in Indian sportspersons are allowed to compete in international events under the Indian flag.
"I have also requested the IOC that if the impasse doesn't end we should have an alternative mechanism. We need to have a plan B in place," he added.
Jitendra's recent statement came after International Olympic Committee has asked the IOA to sack "charge-framed" officials through constitutional amendments by October 31 and conduct fresh elections by December 15 to return to the Olympic fold.
The Indian Sports Minister agreed with IOC's view and asked the IOA to abide by the world body's diktat keeping in mind the interest of the athletes.
"It is very important at this moment that the IOA realises the interest of sportspersons. We have also recommended the IOC to keep chargesheeted persons and criminals out of sports federations," he said.