The Sports Ministry will re-recognise the Indian Olympic Association after it removed Suresh Kalmadi and Abhay Singh Chautala as its life presidents, reported PTI on Tuesday.
The IOA decided to revoke its decision on Monday with its president N Ramachandran stating that no resolution was passed to appoint the duo as life presidents in the Annual General Meeting in Chennai last month.
“I have seen media reports that Indian Olympic Association has cancelled the appointment of Shri Suresh Kalmadi and Shri Abhay Singh Chautala as lifetime Presidents of IOA. I am happy that IOA has reversed its decision which augurs well for governance of sports in the country,” said Sports Minister Vijay Goel,in a statement. “By reversing their earlier decision, which appears to have been taken in a hurried manner, IOA has complied with its own constitutional obligation and also with conditionality approved by International Olympic Committee. In the renewed circumstances, we look forward to partnering with IOA in making India a sporting nation.”
Sports secretary Injeti Srinivas also welcomed the move and stated that the suspension on the Olympic body would be lifted.
Kalmadi and Chautala were appointed honourary life presidents at the IOA’s Annual General Meeting in Chennai on December 27. However, the IOA was forced to reverse its decision after it was opposed by a majority of IOA members and sports personalities including a media outrage. IOA’s Associate Vice-President Narinder Batra also resigned as a mark of protest.
Kalmadi is an accused in the 2010 Commonwealth Games corruption scam while Chautala is facing a trial in a disproportionate assets case.
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