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'.
he Indian Olympic Association (IOA) on Sunday yet again sought to dilute International Olympic Committee's directive to bar charge-framed persons from contesting elections and instead decided to refer such cases to the Ethics Commission of the IOA to take a decision.
The bitter turf war in the IOA seems to be taking one dramatic turn after another with the latest twist being the release of a showcause notice that was sent to sacked Commonwealth Games Organising Committee chief Suresh Kalmadi by the body's disbanded Ethics Commission.
Continuing his campaign against Narinder Batra, Indian Olympic Association vice-president Sudhanshu Mittal has written to International Olympic Committee's Ethics Commission chairman Ban Ki-moon, accusing the IOA president of "illegally" reinstating the "tainted" Lalit Bhanot into the national body. Mittal alleged that immediately after being elected as IOA president, Batra reinstated Bhanot in various capacities despite several cases of corruption related to the 2010 Commonwealth Games, pending against him in court.
The infighting within the Indian Olympic Association took a sensational turn with Narinder Batra alleging that N Ramachandran camp offered him a huge sum of money in return for his support during the elections last year, a claim strongly rebutted by the incumbent IOA president.
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Apparently under pressure from the International Olympic Committee and amid a continuing tug of war among its own members, the IOA has re-constituted the Ethics Committee with a few additional judges within weeks of its controversial scrapping.
Four office bearers of the IOA rubbished reports that the sacked Commonwealth Games Organising Committee chief Suresh Kalmadi was showcaused by its now disbanded Ethics Commission's and sought for an inquiry by the acting president into the matter.
In a major blow to the aspirations of Suresh Kalmadi, V K Verma and Lalit Bhanot ahead of the elections, the Ethics Commission of the International Olympic Committee has recomended that the tainted trio be suspended from all their functions within the IOA with immediate effect.
Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju feels that the National Sports Governance Bill, which is set to be tabled in the monsoon session beginning on Monday, will usher in a 'new era' for sports in India.
Indian Olympic Association chief N Ramachandran has slapped a defamation notice on Narinder Batra, demanding Rs 10 crore for allegedly damaging his reputation by his bribery allegations even as the Hockey India president dared the IOA boss to sue him in a court of law.
A day after Indian Olympic Association secretary-general Randhir Singh warned of serious repercussions on disbanding of some important committees, the apex sports body said it will soon set up the Ethics Committee and Arbitration Commission.
Terming the IOA-IOC saga as a turning point, Union Minister for Youth Affairs & Sports Jitendra Singh said the entire episode is a blessing in disguise for Indian sport.
'WFI must reverse all amendments made during its suspension and ensure checks and balances in decision-making within four weeks.'
The Indian Olympic Association (IOA) left its door ajar for corrupt officials on Sunday, sidestepping a directive from the International Olympic Committee (IOC) to bar tainted officials from contesting its elections.
The International Olympic Committee (IOC), on Friday, cleared Narinder Batra of indulging in any wrongdoing during his election as the IOA president, rejecting the complaint of irregularity filed by the Indian body's vice-President Sudhanshu Mittal.
Patel emphasised that one of the most important features of the bill is the establishment of a dedicated tribunal for resolving disputes, reducing the burden on the judiciary and ensuring quicker justice.
The fierce wrangling in the IOA took a new turn on Monday with its senior functionary R K Anand claiming that the Ethics Commission's 'suspension' of Suresh Kalmadi was known to the apex body's top brass but was deliberately kept under wraps, a claim which was rejected by the rival faction.
Left cornered after being served an ultimatum by the International Olympic Committee, the Indian Olympic Association is all set to amend its constitution in a general body meeting in New Delhi on Sunday to bar charge-framed contestants from its elections.
The International Olympic Committee has written to the Indian Olympic Association, seeking a report on sacked Commonwealth Games Organising Committee chairman Suresh Kalmadi's 'current and exact situation before the courts of justice'.
The Indian Olympic Association's election, the last step in the road map to pave the way for India's return to the Olympic fold, can now be held only in late September after the IOC on Saturday came up with a fresh schedule to complete the entire process.
