IOC took the decision after IOA refused to adopt the eligibility clause as requested by the world body.
NEW DELHI: The International Olympic Committee (IOC) on Thursday refused to lift the suspension on the Indian Olympic Association (IOA) which is in force since December last year, and gave the Indian body a new deadline to set its house in order while asking it to "seize the golden opportunity" to show its readiness to implement the "basic principles of good governance, ethics and integrity".
At its executive board meeting in Buenos Aires,IOC asked the Indian body to meet before October 31 and suitably amend its constitution. The parent body wants IOA frame rules that would disqualify any person charged in court for a criminal or corruption-related case, from running for office.
Once the revised constitution is approved by the IOC, the world body said IOA could go for elections before December 15.
The world body said while IOA's August 25 meeting was a "success" since it most of the members were present and most amendments proposed by it were adopted, not enough was done.
"The IOC noted that a key provision on which the IOC repeatedly insisted during the preparation phase for the revision of the IOA constitution was not included as requested by the IOC, namely the clause which provides that any member who has been charge-framed by any court in India in respect of a criminal or corruption offence...will not be eligible to run for IOA elections and will be provisionally suspended until a final ruling," the IOC said in a letter to the IOA on Thursday.
The IOC decision will leave the Indian athletes without the umbrella they need to compete abroad under the Indian flag. For the past eight months they have been competing under the Olympic flag, which has caused a lot of anguish and heartburn among the athletes.
IOC's decision came after IOA refused to include an eligibility clause in its constitution which would have barred persons charged by courts to contest its election.
After its executive board meeting held in Buenos Aires on Wednesday, the IOC took the decision after taking note of the fact that IOA had refused to adopt the eligibility clause as requested by the world body regarding amendments to IOA's constitution.
"The executive board heard a report that the general assembly (of IOA) had approved most of the amendments to the IOA's constitution requested by the IOC, but one specific clause had not been adopted. This clause, which deals specifically with the eligibility of members, is key to the good governance of the NOC (national Olympic committee) and needs to be fully accepted before the suspended IOA can proceed with the elections," IOC said after the meeting.
Top sources told TOI that IOC's executive board (EB) also decided unanimously that IOA needs to amend its constitution in accordance with the Olympic Charter. It does not pertain only to the 'chargesheeted persons' clause.
Sources said IOC also wants IOA to stick to the principle of applying age and tenure guidelines to all executive committee members of IOA and not only the president, secretary and treasurer. The IOC also has reservations over IOA giving voting rights to state Olympic associations.
With IOC hardening its stand, IOA has been left with no option but to add the clause to its constitution. IOA officials said they have not received any communication from the IOC, but would have to call a meeting and discuss on the issue.
However, president of the suspended IOA, Abhey Singh Chautala, stuck to IOA's earlier stand. "We can't go beyond the law of our land. We will make our constitution according to the law of the land. We have clearly told the two-member IOC delegation that we can't go beyond the law of the land," he told PTI.
In its August 25 meeting, IOA officials had "unanimously" agreed not to make the clause part of the draft constitution and instead suggested that they would have an Ethics Commission in place to look into complaints against tainted officials.
The latest development has put IOA on a sticky wicket because ignoring IOC's demand could lead to disaffiliation from the Olympic movement.
Sensing the desperate situation, sports minister Jitendra Singh asked the sports administrator to support IOC's latest stand. "There are certain issues IOC is insisting on. One of the major ones is ethics and good governance. I hope better sense prevails and the IOA incorporate some of the changes which the IOC has suggested," he said.
Some IOA officials, meanwhile, admitted that the continuance of the ban was detrimental to the prestige of the country. "The continuance of the ban is definitely detrimental to Indian sports and India's prestige also. I am quite unhappy that India is out of the Olympic movement at the moment," IOA's acting president VK Malhotra said.
"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."
IOA vice-president Tarlochan Singh said the body is yet to receive any communication from the IOC. "Once we get it, we need 21 days to call a meeting. We will discuss the issue and for it to get approval, it has to be supported by a two-third majority."
Going by what IOA insiders are saying, getting two-third majority to support a clause that keeps persons charged by courts out of IOA could be a tough task. And that would leave the Indian sportspersons in the lurch
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