The IOA today shied away from taking action against tainted Suresh Kalmadi despite the threat from the world body to act on its own, saying there was no need for any action against its President he has decided keep away from sports administration.
The IOA called its Executive Board meeting to discuss the letters sent to it by the International Olympic Committee to act against Kalmadi but refrained from taking any hard decisions.
Kalmadi spent nine months in jail in the Commonwealth Games corruption scandal before being released on bail last month.
IOA Acting-resident Vijay Kumar Malhotra said that the national body has replied to IOC’s three letters and it would wait for further communication from the world body.
“The Executive Committee unanimously accepted the two letters written by Kalmadi to IOA Acting President, which said that he would not assert his rights and obligations as IOA President as he would not be able to function as IOA chief for long time,” Mr. Malhotra told a press conference here.
“The Executive Committee passed a resolution that the IOA Acting President will continue as IOA chief with all the powers under its Constitution,” he said.
“We have replied to all the letters sent to us by the IOC. We will wait for replies from the IOC,” he said when asked about IOC’s threat to act on its own if the IOA fails to do the same.
Coming out of the meeting which lasted just about half an hour, Mr. Malhotra did not divulge anything on the contents of the replies and pleaded to talk on other issues, simply trying to switch topics.
Asked what was the IOA’s stand on IOC wanting to know about the chargesheet filed against Kalmadi, Malhotra said, “The IOA has nothing to do with it. It’s a matter between the government and Kalmadi. It’s a court case and the IOA can’t do anything in that.”
On being pressed why Kalmadi had not resigned as yet, Mr. Malhotra shot back, “You should ask him. He has said he would not assert his rights and obligations as IOA president.”
Mr. Malhotra also informed that the Executive Committee passed a resolution, approving the new amended rules of the Ethics Commission as required under the IOC.
“The Executive Committee also approved the new rules issued by the IOC Ethics Commission in January. We have circulated the IOC rules to all the members as well as the members of the Ethics Commission and have sought for suggestions from them within 10 days,” he said.
“All this will be incorporated and sent to the IOC for approval,” he added.
Another top IOA official, however, claimed that IOA Annual General Meeting will have to approve the new rules before the Ethics Commission comes into force.
“The Ethics Commission cannot start functioning now. The new rules under the IOC will have to be approved by AGM first. Then only the Ethics Commission will start functioning,” he said.
IOA Secretary General Randhir Singh, however, made it clear that the existing Ethics Commission will continue to function.
“The resolution we have passed is very clear. The existing Ethics Commission stands. We have circulated the IOC’s amended rules to the members and we will frame the new rules after getting the feedback,” Randhir Singh said.
Mr. Malhotra denied that the IOA had decided to boycott the opening and closing ceremonies of London Olympics, protesting against non-removal of Dow Chemicals as one of the sponsors.
“There were some reports that the IOA will boycott the opening and closing ceremonies of London Olympics. The issue was not in the agenda today. But the IOA has not taken any decision on this,” Mr. Malhotra said.
