IOA to amend constitution, to end impasse with IOC

Left cornered after being served an ultimatum by the International Olympic Committee, the Indian Olympic Association is all set to amend its constitution in a general body meeting in New Delhi on Sunday to bar charge-framed contestants from its elections.

The Indian Olympic Association was left with no choice after the IOC served an ultimatum on November 15 to amend the constitution to bar charge-framed persons from contesting polls by December 10.

The constitutional amendments would bring to an end the year old impasse between the IOA and the IOC.

The world body said it would recommend India's de-recognition to its Executive Board which meets on December 10 and 11 if the diktat is not followed.

A top IOA official informed that the special general body meeting has no other option but to amend the constitution as desired by the IOC.

"We have no other option now. De-recognition will be a disaster for India. Though some members feel that India has been singled out by the IOC on the issue of charge-framed persons, there is no other way out and we have to amend the constitution to bar them," he said.

The special general body meeting is also expected to decide on the dates for the IOA elections.

S Reghunathan, who has been chairing the past two meetings, is likely to chair meet. The last meeting on October 27, which was also a requisition meeting, was adjourned sine die so that it can be reconvened at a short notice.

Suspended on December 5 last for government interference in its functioning and for allowing corruption-tainted persons to contest elections, the IOA has remained adamant against the IOC directive to amend its constitution to bar charge-framed individuals from fighting polls.

It has repeatedly sought to dilute the IOC diktat on some pretext or the other, the latest being on October 27 when its GBM proposed referring the case of charge-framed persons to its internal Ethics Commission, before the world body served the ultimatum.

The de-recognition threat and reports of a planned ad-hoc committee led to the IOA top brass finally understanding the futility of taking on the IOC.

De-recognition would mean that India would cease to be a part of the Olympic Movement and the country's sportspersons will not be allowed to take part in any international event.

It is also learnt that IOA chief V K Malhotra's letter to the IOC chief Thomas Bach to postpone the GBM till January in view of the election process in the five states was also rejected by the world body.

Malhotra said since several IOA members are either contesting in the state elections or directly involved in campaigning, they may not be able to attend the GBM if it is held before December 10.

Malhotra, who has assured the IOC to amend the IOA constitution in line with the desire of the world body, will not attend tomorrow's GBM.

Photograph: Michael Reegan/Getty Images