IOC issues another warning to IOA

Elections in balance as world body stands firm

The International Olympic Committee has stated that it would propose the suspension of the Indian Olympic Association (IOA) during its executive board meeting at Lausanne on December 4 and 5 because of the continuing stance of the IOA that its elections would be held as scheduled.

Even as it wrote to the IOA once again asking it to explain its position by November 30, the IOC made it clear that it was going ahead with its proposal to suspend the Indian body.

The IOC’s latest warning came in reply to IOA’s letter on Monday inviting the IOC/OCA (Olympic Council of Asia) delegation for the election scheduled on December 5.
 But the the IOC turned down the invitation, saying the IOA’s letter does not provide it with the guarantee that the polls would be conducted under the Olympic Charter and IOA constitution. The impending poll, of December 5, now hangs in balance with the IOC stoutly refusing to recognise the elections if held under the government Sports Code.

“From your letter of 26 November, we came to the conclusion that the IOA and the government authorities are unable to rectify the situation in order for the IOA elections to be conducted in line with the Olympic Charter and the IOA Constitution, as required by the IOC. It is therefore extremely surprising and — once again contradictory — that you continue to move ahead with the IOA’s election process,” IOC director-general Christophe de Kepper wrote.

 ‘In view of the above, it is hereby confirmed that a proposal for suspension of the IOA will be presented to the IOC Executive Board at its next meeting on 4-5 December 2012, based on Rules 27.9 and 59.1.4 of the Olympic Charter.”.

The IOA had the pressure from the government and subsequently and order of the Delhi High Court to follow the government Sports Code in the election even though it made it clear to the IOC that it was opposed to the code.

The IOC, however, blamed both the IOA and the government for the situation. “The issues at hand have been discussed for more than two years and have unfortunately not been resolved adequately by the government authorities and the IOA in spite of all the efforts made by the IOC to express a clear position and make concrete proposals to overcome this situation. The IOC invited the IOA and the government representatives to a meeting in Lausanne in June 2010 and, since then, has been continuously available to work constructively in order to find an acceptable solution,” IOC wrote.

 “These efforts have, however, been unsuccessful due to the regrettable lack of cooperation from the IOA and the government authorities, which has led to the current situation.”

The IOA  will now be clinging to the last ray of hope left by IOC, that is to draft its reply to the whole situation. “As mentioned in the IOC/OCA letter of 23 November, the IOA is invited to provide all necessary explanations and to present its position in writing to the IOC no later than 30 November 2012.”

Meanwhile, IOA acting president Vijay Kumar Malhotra said they have not violated any rule and are preparing to file an appropriate reply and if possible even meet the IOC officials. The IOA is also planning to meet the Sports Minister Jitendra Singh on Thursday.
 “All the nominations have been accepted by the three-member election panel which means that we have not violated any rule. The three-member panel will file its report on Thursday and based on that we will file a reply,” Malhotra said.