With IOC polls around corner,IOA hopes to buy more time for reforms

The IOA is seeking more time,hoping that the new IOC president will take a lenient approach.

No immediate solution seems to be in sight to end the impasse between the Indian Olympic Association (IOA) and International Olympic Committee (IOC),with the former refusing to bow down to its parent body’s demand of barring charge-sheeted officials from contesting elections.

However,the IOA is likely to seek more time,hoping that the new IOC president,to be elected on September 7,will take a lenient approach.

A top IOA official said the association is ‘united’ in defying the IOC’s diktat during their Annual General Body meeting on Sunday. If the IOA accepts the world governing body’s proposal,it will render the likes of Abhay Singh Chautala and Lalit Bhanot ineligible for the elections.

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The IOC wants the polls to be held by the end of September. The defiant stand of the IOA may have a huge bearing on the country’s return to the Olympic fold but officials have asserted that amendments to bar corruption-tainted officials cannot be carried out as Indian law permits charge-sheeted persons to contest even parliamentary elections.

The IOC had subsequently warned of further action if the amendments were not carried out in Sunday’s general body meeting. Despite being cautioned,the IOA,led by Chautala and Bhanot,who were elected president and secretary general in the December 5 elections,which were not recognised by the IOC,has remained rebellious.

It is learnt that majority of the IOA officials are opposed to the amendments proposed by the IOC and Sunday’s meeting,which will be attended by three IOC observers,will end without any concrete decision being taken.

Randhir in the mix

“As of now,most of the members are not in favour of several provisions proposed by the IOC,” a top IOA official said. “We may discuss the amendments proposed by the IOC but a decision is unlikely. We have also urged Randhir Singh (IOC member from India) to support our case and he has been cordial so far.”

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The official said the IOA would explain to the three representatives of the IOC about the legal position in India. The IOC in its August 15 missive asked the IOA to amend its constitution incorporating the provision to bar tainted persons from contesting elections next month. There were suggestions that the IOA members would move a no-confidence motion against Randhir,with a majority of the officials feeling that he has been misguiding the IOC and thus prolonging India’s suspension.