IOA blames Randhir for suspension, goes ahead with elections

DELHI, INDIA – OCTOBER 06: India’s Rajender Kumar with an Indian flag after winning a gold medal defeating Pakistan’s Azhar Hussain in the 55kg Greco-Roman wrestling at the IG Sports Complex during day three of the Delhi 2010 Commonwealth Games on October 6, 2010 in Delhi, India.

New Delhi, Dec 5 – The Indian Olympic Association (IOA) Wednesday blamed its outgoing secretary general Randhir Singh for the mess it is in and decided to go ahead with its elections despite being suspended by the International Olympic Committee (IOC).

The Annual General Meeting (AGM) of the IOA held here Wednesday passed a resolution blaming Randhir Singh’s act. The house felt it was Randhir Singh who was responsible for the IOA’s suspension by the IOC.

Significantly, Randhir Singh, who withdrew from the IOA presidential election Nov 25, was absent from the meeting.

IOA acting president Vijay Kumar Malhotra was hopeful that he would find a solution with the IOC and the government of India.

“Today 147 members were present in the meeting, so we decided to go ahead with the elections. We are following the IOC Charter and none of the nominations have been rejected. I am hopeful that we will solve the issues with the IOC,” said Malhotra.

Malhotra said that secretary general candidate Lalit Bhanot has been asked to present his case to the IOC.

The IOC Tuesday suspended the IOA citing “outside interference” in applying the international committee’s election rules and that the IOA has been unable to observe its own statutes and the Olympic Charter.

With the suspension, the IOA is not entitled to hold any elections without prior approval of the IOC.