23/11/2012
The IOC has written today to the Indian Olympic Association (IOA) informing it that a proposal to suspend the IOA will be presented to the IOC Executive Board at its next meeting on 4 and 5 December 2012, unless the current situation is rectified.
For more than two years, the IOC has expressed severe concerns about government interference in the IOA’s upcoming election process. 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. Should this be the case, and as previously warned, the results of such elections would not be recognised by the IOC. The IOC’s position has been expressed to all parties concerned on numerous occasions, however, the IOA has been unable to resolve these pending issues satisfactorily. The IOA has also failed to keep the IOC informed in a timely manner or ensure close coordination. For these reasons, the IOA is now at risk of suspension by the IOC – a matter that will be discussed at the next IOC Executive Board meeting.