The prolonged drama over IOA (Indian Olympic Association) elections came to a predicted end on Friday with Indian Boxing Federation (IBF) chief Abhay Singh Chautala getting elected as president. However, the unopposed election of joint secretary Lalit Bhanot as its secretary general has raised a few eyebrows.
While Chautala’s election became a mere formality after Randhir Singh and his team withdrew from key IOA posts earlier this week, Bhanot’s case can spoil all efforts to avoid suspension by IOC (International Olympic Committee) executive committee which meets at its headquarters in Lausanne, Switzerland, on 4 December. And if it cuts IOA’s name from the members’ list, the only chance to see an Indian at the Games will be under the Olympic flag. IOC Ethics Commission in October warned the Indian body against fielding either ex-CWG secretary general Bhanot or former IOA chief Suresh Kalmadi. Banot spent 11 months in jail before getting released on bail.
On Friday, justice (retd) Anil Dev Singh put up the final list of candidates which named Virendra Nanavati as senior vice-president and N Ramachandran as treasurer.
Chautala’s election as president had become clear last Sunday when his rival Randhir Singh withdrew his nomination for the post but the official declaration came after the deadline for withdrawal of nominations ended on Thursday evening.
Chautala, while defending Bhanot, said any person, until convicted by court of law, was free to contest polls. ‘In our country, there are several important figures against whom cases are registered. A lot of cases have been registered on political grounds against politicians like Mulayam Singh Yadav, Lalu Prasad Yadav, J Jayalalitha, Om Prakash Chautala, Prakash Singh Badal and many others. They are running the state governments of their respective states,’ said Chautala while making his point.
With IOC already contemplating axing India from its list if it finds that IOA did not conduct elections in line with the Olympic charter, the drama is still yet to finish.
While Chautala’s election became a mere formality after Randhir Singh and his team withdrew from key IOA posts earlier this week, Bhanot’s case can spoil all efforts to avoid suspension by IOC (International Olympic Committee) executive committee which meets at its headquarters in Lausanne, Switzerland, on 4 December. And if it cuts IOA’s name from the members’ list, the only chance to see an Indian at the Games will be under the Olympic flag. IOC Ethics Commission in October warned the Indian body against fielding either ex-CWG secretary general Bhanot or former IOA chief Suresh Kalmadi. Banot spent 11 months in jail before getting released on bail.
On Friday, justice (retd) Anil Dev Singh put up the final list of candidates which named Virendra Nanavati as senior vice-president and N Ramachandran as treasurer.
Chautala’s election as president had become clear last Sunday when his rival Randhir Singh withdrew his nomination for the post but the official declaration came after the deadline for withdrawal of nominations ended on Thursday evening.
Chautala, while defending Bhanot, said any person, until convicted by court of law, was free to contest polls. ‘In our country, there are several important figures against whom cases are registered. A lot of cases have been registered on political grounds against politicians like Mulayam Singh Yadav, Lalu Prasad Yadav, J Jayalalitha, Om Prakash Chautala, Prakash Singh Badal and many others. They are running the state governments of their respective states,’ said Chautala while making his point.
With IOC already contemplating axing India from its list if it finds that IOA did not conduct elections in line with the Olympic charter, the drama is still yet to finish.