Taking a tough stand against the nomination of Suresh Kalmadi and Abhay Singh Chautala as life presidents of the Indian Olympic Association (IOA), the sports ministry suspended the recognition given to the national sports body. The government's move came after the IOA failed to come up with a satisfactory response to the government's show-cause notice served on it.
IOA had sought a time extension for its response up to January 15, 2017 on the ground that its president was out of the country and it needed to consult him. “Following the suspension, IOA will cease to enjoy the privileges and prerogatives bestowed on it by the government as the National Olympic Committee (NOC). All government assistance, financial or otherwise, to IOA will also be stopped,” the ministry said in a statement.
The ministry said it was not satisfied with the response of IOA. “Government considers the reply of IOA only a ploy to buy time. This is a serious violation of the norms of good governance by IOA which is the mother sports body and corrective action needs to be taken immediately as it is a matter of national prestige and public sentiments,” the ministry said.
The ministry said it cannot remain a mute spectator to “blatant violation of principles of ethic and good governance” while adding that the IOA will remain unrecognized until necessary corrective measure is taken by IOA.
“It doesn't make any difference. We are not on the payrolls of the ministry. IOA does not take money from the government as there is no direct funding. I would rather ask them to dissolve it,” IOA joint secretary Anandeshwar Pandey, who was India's deputy Chef-de-Mission to Rio Olympics, said.
Sports minister Vijay Goel said that IOA's decision was a violation of world body's (IOC) charter. “When IOC itself objected to Chautala's election as president and had forced him to resign in 2014, why has this body (IOA) has gone ahead and nominated him as life president? IOC is surely going to question this,” Goel said.
Meanwhile, another IOA office-bearer said that the body may now approach the IOC over the issue. “The reversal of the decision is not an easy thing to do. This decision has been taken at an AGM and we need another meeting to take a decision again. Calling another meeting cannot be done in a jiffy,” said an official of the IOA. “We will in all probability go to IOC because the government cannot interfere in the matters of an independent body.”
However, ministry sources said it was necessary to send out a strong message to IOA. “We have taken a decision and there will be no looking back. What this means is that whatever competition they conduct will not be recognized by the government. Few people in the IOA cannot hold the country's sports to ransom. They have acted against their own constitution and the guidelines of their world body,” they said.
“The Government of India has taken a stand and it is very clear that the National Olympic Association cannot function like a private club. The Supreme Court has made it very clear that they are a public body and they have to function as a responsible body. Public funding will be governed by public law and they have to be accountable,” sources added.
