IOC warns India over govt. interference
NEW DELHI, Nov 24, 2012 (AFP) - The International Olympic Committee on Saturday threatened to suspend India's membership if the national federation did not conduct elections as per the Olympic charter.
The faction-ridden Indian Olympic Association (IOA) is due to hold elections on December 5 to replace tainted ex-president Suresh Kalmadi, who was jailed for corruption during the 2010 Commonwealth Games in New Delhi.
The IOA has been directed by a Delhi court to hold elections as per the government's sports code, while the IOC wants the federation to abide by the Olympic charter that favours autonomy.
An IOC statement posted on its website said it had written a letter to the Indian federation informing it The factionridden Indian Olympic Association (IOA) is due to hold elections on December 5 that a proposal to suspend the IOA will be presented to the IOC's Executive Board on December 4 and 5 if the “current situation was not rectified”.
“For more than two years, the IOC has expressed severe concerns about government interference in the IOA's upcoming election process,” the statement said.
“There is also concern over information only recently provided by the IOA that its elections would be conducted based on government regulations rather than the IOA's constitution and the Olympic charter.
NEW DELHI, Nov 24, 2012 (AFP) - The International Olympic Committee on Saturday threatened to suspend India's member- ship if the national federation did not conduct elections as per the Olympic charter.
The faction-ridden Indian Olympic Asso- ciation (IOA) is due to hold elections on December 5 to replace tainted ex-president Suresh Kalmadi, who was jailed for cor- ruption during the 2010 Commonwealth Games in New Delhi.