Sports Minister Jitendra Singh on Friday said an alternative mechanism needs to be put in place to enable Indian athletes to compete under the national flag in the wake of IOA’s reluctance to adhere to IOC’s guidelines.
“What I forsee is that the IOC is not going to recognise the IOA. That’s why we have requested for an alternative mechanism to be put in place where in Indian sportspersons are allowed to compete in international events under the Indian flag,” Jitendra said.
“I have also requested the IOC that if the impasse doesn’t end we should have an alternative mechanism. We need to have a plan B in place,” he added.
Jitendra’s recent statement came after International Olympic Committee has asked the IOA to sack “charge-framed” officials through constitutional amendments by October 31 and conduct fresh elections by December 15 to return to the Olympic fold.
The Indian Sports Minister agreed with IOC’s view and asked the IOA to abide by the world body’s diktat keeping in mind the interest of the athletes. “It is very important at this moment that the IOA realises the interest of sportspersons. We have also recommended the IOC to keep chargesheeted persons and criminals out of sports federations,” he said.
Oct 31 deadline for IOA
Hardening its stand against the IOA, the International Olympic Committee has asked the Indian body to sack “charge-framed” officials through constitutional amendments by October 31 and conduct fresh elections by December 15 to return to the Olympic fold.
Giving its “conclusions and decisions” on the IOA’s Executive General Meeting held here last month, the IOC said the key provision of barring individuals, against whom charges have been framed in court, was ignored by the Indian body.
“The IOC is well aware of the difference in the Indian legal system between charge-sheeted persons and charge-framed persons and has never requested that the clause initially proposed applies for charge-sheeted persons. Therefore it is reiterated that the initial wording is aimed to apply for anyone charge-framed by a court in India,” the IOC Director General Christophe de Kepper said in a letter to the IOA.
“...The IOC does fully respect the principle that ‘until proven guilty, one is innocent’. However, what is at stake is the reputation of the Olympic movement which must not be tarnished,” it added.
The IOC then goes on to urge the IOA to act accordingly, setting deadlines for the requisite constitutional changes and the fresh elections. “It is required that the suspended IOA includes the initial wording proposed by the IOC (or a very similar wording which would not dilute the meaning and the expected results and which would be submitted in advance to the IOC) with respect to both charge-framed and convicted individuals.
“This is pre-requisite for the IOC to approve the revised Constitution of the IOA. For that purpose, the suspended IOA should meet again in a General Assembly no later than October 31 and proceed with the required amendments,” the IOC stated.
“Once this step in completed and the IOC can approve the new constitution of the IOA, the suspended IOA would be in a position to hold its Elective General Meeting as soon as possible thereafter and no later than December 15,” it added.
The IOC also made it clear that the age and tenure restrictions proposed by it were applicable on not just the President, Secretary General and the Treasurer but also the entire Executive Council. “Upon completion of the whole process...The IOC Executive Board would be in a position to consider lifting the suspension on the IOA,” the IOC said.
“It is highly expected that the suspended IOA will act accordingly and seize this golden opportunity to show its readiness to implement the basic principles of good governance, ethics and integrity which must prevail within the Olympic movement,” it added.