IOA sets up ethics commission

The Indian Olympic Association has set up an Ethics Commission comprising three former Supreme Court and High Court judges to look into matters related to "ethical principles of the Olympic movement".

In a letter to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, IOA Acting President Prof. Vijay Kumar Malhotra said besides this ethics Commission, an Indian Court of Arbitration for Sports (ICAS) with a panel of eight former Judges of Supreme Court and High Court, is already in place.

"...IOA has constituted Ethics Commission with three former Judges of Supreme Court and High Court to look into matters related to ethical principles of Olympic movement," he said in the letter.

ICAS has been set up on the lines of Court of Arbitration for Sports of International Olympic Committee (IOC).

Malhotra said the IOA, being an autonomous body, functions under the aegis of the IOC and as per the Olympic charter.

He added that the accounts of IOA are being audited by the CAG for more than a decade.

"In January last year, as per orders passed by the Delhi High Court the IOA has come under purview of the RTI Act. The IOA has welcomed this order and set up the RTI Cell and regularly furnishing information to queries received under this Act."

Malhotra said the IOA, in compliance with the World Anti-Doping agency Code, has also established Anti-Doping Commission.

"This Commission ensures that anti-doping policies and rules are in compliance with the applicable provisions as stipulated by WADA."