Suspended IOA convenes meeting on August 25

IOC representatives to be present during SGM

The suspended Indian Olympic Association (IOA) will now hold its Special General Body meeting on August 25, it was decided on Thursday.

A total of 125 members from more than 30 National Sports Federations (NSFs) and State Olympic Associations attended Thursday’s requisition meeting, which had been scheduled keeping in mind the International Olympic Committee’s (IOC) earlier deadline of July 15 for amending the constitution.

Despite the IOC extending the deadline by a month, the members of the National Olympic Committee, decided to meet this day to fix a new date for the Special General Body meeting. The meeting was attended by Abhay Singh Chautala and Lalit Bhanot. It, however, was presided by President of the Indian Kayaking and Canoeing Association, S Raghunathan, who was part of the delegation that went to Lausanne to meet with the IOC officials.

“Since the IOC had given us a new date, nothing could be passed in the meeting. The IOC letter informing about the extended deadlines was read out to the members. Mr Raghunathan proposed August 25 as the date of the Special General Body Meeting to amend the constitution and it was unanimously agreed to by everyone,” an IOA official told Deccan Herald.

The IOC representatives would also be present for the meeting on August 25.

As per the revised IOC dates, the IOA needed to hold the Special General Meeting between August 22 and 28 and elections a month later between September 22 and 28.

The IOC had suspended the IOA on December 4 last year.

Meanwhile, Chautala said they were not under any pressure from the government as regards the Spors Bill. Asked about the age and tenure restriction guidelines contained in the Draft Sports Bill released by the government, Chautala said, “We are not under any pressure from the government or IOC. The IOA will decide the issue under its constitution which conforms to Olympic Charter,” he said.

The Sports Ministry, on its part, said it will not get directly involved in the IOA matters.
“We were aware of the new date for the adjourned meeting. The roadmap is an agreement between the NSFs, IOA and IOC.

“The government is not directly involved. However, we are keeping abreast of the developments,” Sports Secretary P K Deb told PTI when asked if the IOA consulted it on the date of Special GBM.