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The International Olympic Committee (IOC) having served an ultimatum to India’s Olympic body, the Indian Olympic Association (IOA) seems to be moving towards accepting the international body’s directive.
The IOC had told the Indian body to prevent charge-framed persons from contesting elections or face de-recognition, and the IOA has been dragging its heels over the issue until now, at times even setting itself up on a confrontational course with the governing body.
Now, it does finally look like the IOA is trying to solve the impasse by going towards amending its constitution at its general meet in December. The ultimatum had been served on November 15 to the suspended IOA, to either amend the constitution or face complete de-recognition.
TOI reports that a key Indian official has spoken to some senior IOC officials who have explained very clearly that India might have to face up to the proposition of getting frozen out at the international level, leaving not much room to maneuver for the IOA.
De-recognition will mean that India will no longer be a part of the Olympic Movement and the India’s sportspersons will not be allowed to take part in any international event. India’s athletes are currently taking part under the IOC banner.
“In case the IOA does not meet by or before December 9 and amend its constitution to make the charge-framed persons ineligible, then the IOC in its Executive Board meeting on December 10 and 11 will recommend to IOC Council meeting in February 2014 to withdraw recognition of the IOA,” said the letter circulated internally among the top IOA officials.
The letter also mentions that an adhoc committee could be formed after such a de-recognition which would consist of V K Malhotra, Randhir Singh, Anil Khanna, Abhinav Bindra, Manish Malhotra, Ashwini Nachappa and Rahul Mehra.
“The ad hoc committee will amend the IOA constitution and the state units and non-Olympic sport national federations will be made associate members without voting rights. Only Olympic sport national federations will get voting right of one vote and all Executive Committee members will have to retire at the age of 70,” the senior IOA official said in the letter, in a bid to request his colleagues to act quickly.
He goes on to say that the general body meeting of the IOA will have to be held on December 8 so that the minutes can be sent the very next day.
“The notice of the GBM will have to be sent by November 23,” the letter said.
It is now close to a year since the IOA got suspended for government interference and for allowing corrupted persons to contest elections.
