India avoids expulsion from the IOC
IOC President Thomas Bach threatened to expel the Indian Olympic Association from the IOC if it did not comply with the IOC's rules for good governance.
09.12.2013
India’s Olympic body was suspended from the IOC a year ago because of governmental interference in its election process. Even though many issues had been resolved, the IOA still had to agree to bar officials charged with a criminal offence such as its general-secretary Lalit Bhanot, who had been jailed for 10 months in a corruption case related to the 2010 Commonwealth Games in New Delhi, writes the Herald Sun.
IOC President Thomas Bach said to the Associated Press this Saturday that the IOC would consider taking the next step and withdraw recognition of the Indian body if no solution had been reached before the IOC’s meeting Tuesday in Lausanne.
The IOA met on Sunday in New Delhi, where it agreed to amend its constitution, just two days before the deadline set by the IOC. Bhanot and IOA president Abhay Chautala, charged in a recruitment scam not related to sports, are not eligible for elections on February 9, writes ESPN.
"The IOA has unanimously decided to amend the relevant clause in its constitution which would bar charge-framed persons from contesting elections," said IOA official S. Raghunathan according to ESPN. "Both Chautala and Bhanot said they will not contest the upcoming elections."
During the suspension, the Indian body has not received IOC funding and Indian athletes have been barred from competing in Olympic events under their national flag.
Sources: The Herald Sun, ESPN
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Sanjay Tewari,
India,
10.12.2013 15:00:
The Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports, Government of India has expressed its pleasure over this. Thanks, the deadlock between the IOA and Government of India seems to be over.Triumph for the game,triumph for the athletes.