The International Olympic Committee is concerned about the state of the Indian Olympic Association and has threatened to suspend the governing body if it cannot hold elections in the coming weeks. “The IOC and the OCA have followed with great concern the latest developments affecting the Indian Olympic Association,” the IOC said in a letter to all members of the IOA’s Executive Council. “Unfortunately, if the IOA fails to fulfill its obligations and cannot properly conduct its quadrennial elections in the coming weeks, the IOC will have no choice but to consider appropriate protective measures against the IOA, including a suspension, until the IOA can function normally and elections in accordance with the Olympic Charter and the IOA Constitution.
“We sincerely hope that the IOA will now act accordingly and responsibly, in the interest of the Olympic Movement and the athletes in India, and we look forward to your immediate response and confirmation of the next steps,” it said.
The IOA elections were scheduled to take place in December last year but could not be held on schedule due to constant changes in the electoral process.
Last December, the IOA had formed a six-member committee to look at changes to the constitution to be made before elections are held to bring it into line with the National Sports Code.
In May this year, Narinder Batra was removed as IOA chief after the Delhi Supreme Court removed the position of ‘life member’ in Hockey India, courtesy of the courtesy with which he contested and won the top body election in 2017.
Batra later officially resigned as IOA president. After being impeached by the Supreme Court, Batra had issued a statement announcing his decision not to participate in the IOA elections.
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In the letter, the IOC said “it is very unfortunate to find that several legal proceedings have been launched, which so far have only caused delays and unnecessary complications”.
IOC said in its letter that “the IOA should have addressed and resolved these institutional issues internally, through the appropriate governing bodies of the IOA, in accordance with the IOA Constitution and following our recommendations and the usual approach prevailing within the Olympic Movement.” The international body also urged IOA to “convene a meeting of the IOA Executive Council, followed by an extraordinary/special meeting of the IOA General Assembly, to review this situation once and for all and and to confirm the date of the IOA’s quadrennial elections further postponement…”
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