Tainted former Commonwealth Games official Lalit Bhanot was left as the only candidate in a controversial election for the post of secretary-general of the Indian Olympic Association (IOA) which is likely to earn the country an Olympic ban.
Lalit Bhanot, who was jailed for 11 months for his alleged role in the Commonwealth Games corruption case, was elected secretary-general of the Indian Olympic Association on Friday. With no opponent in the fray, after Randhir Singh and others withdrew their candidature, Abhay Singh Chautala will take over as president.
Abhay Singh Chautala took over as the president of the Indian Olympic Association while the tainted Lalit Bhanot became the secretary general after the IOA conducted its controversial elections, on Wednesday, defying the IOC's directive not to go ahead with the polls.
The Government on Tuesday expressed shock at the appointments of Commonwealth Games (CWG) scam accused Suresh Kalmadi and Indian National Lok Dal (INLD) leader Abhay Chautala as life presidents of the Indian Olympic Association (IOA).
"He has taken the decision to step aside. He had no idea that the IOA was going to do this yesterday and has declined any post till his name is clear," Kalmadi's lawyer Hitesh Jain told a TV channel.
A day after Suresh Kalmadi and Abhay Singh Chautala were named Life Presidents of the Indian Olympic Association, a top official of the IOA on Wednesday questioned the move, pointing out that it violated the Constitution of the top sports body.
Indian Olympic Association will hold its special General Body Meeting in New Delhi on October 27 to decide on the date of elections as per the directives of the International Olympic Committee.
The defiant Indian Olympic Association (IOA) finally slammed its door on corrupt officials on Sunday in a precariously late act of compliance to get the country's Olympic ban overturned.
The defiant Indian Olympic Association (IOA) finally slammed its door on corrupt officials on Sunday in a precariously late act of compliance to get the country's Olympic ban overturned.
Sports Minister Goel hits out at IOA chief N Ramachandran for making Suresh Kalmadi and Abhay Chautala life presidents
The Indian Olympic Association General Body Meeting started off on a stormy note on Sunday with close to 50 demonstrators under the banner of Clean Sports India protesting against the association's officials, who have been chargesheeted in corruption cases.
The decks were cleared for India's return to the Olympic fold after a 14-month suspension with Indian Olympic Association conducting its polls with N Ramachandran being elected as the president.
International Olympic Committee's member in India, Randhir Singh on Wednesday asked the officials of suspended Indian Olympic Association to accept the IOC's directive to bar charge-framed persons from contesting elections or face further action from the world body.
In news that will please Indian sports lovers, IOA secretary-general Rajeev Mehta confirmed on Tuesday that the International Olympic Committee has lifted the ban on India.
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