The Indian Olympic Association was left disappointed on Thursday following the International Olympic Committee’s refusal to accede to their request to modify the ‘charge-sheet clause’ and wondered why they were being singled out among all the National Olympic Committees to adopt the rule in their constitution.
The IOA officials had been giving the reference of ‘law of the land’ and insisted they could not go against it.
Tarlochan Singh, senior vice-president of the suspended IOA, said: “In every country the law of the land is followed. We have been telling IOC that in India a charge-sheeted individual cannot be barred from elections. The whole house will now sit and discuss what to do next.”
The acting president of the suspended IOA, VK Malhotra, favoured the barring of individuals facing criminal and corruption charges from being the office bearers. He, however, said the IOC should ensure that such a clause was followed by all member countries.
Firm stand
"We have to follow the IOC charter. I am also of the opinion that people facing criminal and corruption charges shouldn't contest the election. But we need see to what stage it can be made applicable,” Malhotra said.
“The IOC (charge-sheet) clause should be applicable to all member countries. If it is for all countries, naturally, we will have to follow it.”
Malhotra said the continuance of the ban was detrimental to Indian sports and requested the IOA to stand united to find a way out to get the suspension lifted.
“I have talked to IOA members (after the meeting) and they said that IOC members were convinced and the ban will be lifted. It appeared that they were convinced that India has done whatever they were needed to do. But IOC should have clearly told at the time when the clause was being discussed that if you don’t agree to this clause, we will not lift the ban,” he said.
However, Abhay Singh Chautala, who won the IOA elections last December before they were declared null and void by the IOC, however, remained defiant.
“We will make our constitution according to the law of the land. We have clearly told the IOC delegation that we can't go beyond the law of the land,” Chautala said.
Another IOA official questioned why was India being singled out for this clause. “Getting charge-sheeted does not make you a criminal. We don’t understand why India is being singled out to follow this clause,” he asked.
Meanwhile, the Sports Ministry welcomed IOC’s decision to keep the tainted officials out of the IOA. “We had made it very clear from the beginning that we endorse the IOC’s stand on ethics issue. We are satisfied. We hope the IOA will accept the IOC’s recommendations,” Sports Secretary PK Deb said.