Ramachandran not to contest IOA elections

The Indian Olympic Association (IOA) President N Ramachandran has decided not to contest in the forthcoming elections to the sports body at its Annual General Body Meeting here on December 14.

"I wish to inform all of you that contrary to what is being said, it is not my intention to stand for election as president of the IOA in the ensuing elections," Ramachandran wrote in a letter to the IOA members.

The 69-year-old was elected president in 2014 following  IOA's lengthy suspension by the world body. "I am nearing 70 and I intend to abide by the constitution of the IOA and the guidelines framed by the IOC. I firmly believe that my successor should have a full term of four years and I wish him and the new team all the best," he said.

A second term for Ramachandran had already become bleak. He had lost support of majority of IOA members who did not approve his style of functioning. Despite the insistence of his faction to hold the AGM in Chennai, the IOA Executive Committee Meeting in the first week of November ratified the decision to shift the venue to Delhi.

FIH president Narinder Batra and former AITA chief Anil Khanna are the front runners now for the post of IOA chief.