IOA to send two officials to Lausanne

Indian Olympic Association (IOA) will be sending two of its officials to meet International Olympic Committee members in Lausanne to explain their stance.

Hockey India president Narinder Batra and lawyer R K Anand is scheduled to meet the IOC officials, though the date is yet to be confirmed.

IOC had said that they will go ahead and table a proposal of disaffiliation against IOA in its executive committee meeting on Dec 4. IOC wants IOA to hold its election as per the Olympic Charter and IOA constitution.

IOA has been given time till Friday (Nov 30) to explain its position vis-a-vis the Sports Code of the government. IOA sources said that they have formulated a reply on Thursday.

An IOA delegation is also scheduled to meet the Sports Ministry officials on Friday to discuss the matter.

Meanwhile, Abhay Singh Chautala is all set to become the new president of IOA. Lalit Bhanot will be the secretary general as Rajiv Mehta too pulled out of the race. IOC Ethics Commission recommended to bar all those, including Bhanot, who have been charge-sheeted in the Commonwealth Games scam from IOA functioning. It will be interesting to see how IOC reacts to this development.

The three-member panel is likely to put up a final list of candidates by Friday. Most of the nominations from the Randhir Singh group were withdrawn and there are only few seats which will see a contest.

With most of the candidates owing allegiance to Randhir Singh withdrawing from the fray, many of the candidates belonging to the Chautala camp will be elected unopposed.

Virendra Nanavati of the Swimming Federation of India will become a senior vice-president with no other candidate in the fray while the decks are cleared for Lalit Bhanot to take over as secretary-general. Anil Khanna of All India Tennis Association  (AITA) will have no contest for the treasurer’s post.